Glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause gradual loss of sight with no symptoms in the early stages. It's estimated that half the people with glaucoma don't even know they have it.
Damage to the optic nerve causes vision loss. At first it was believed that intraocular pressure or IOP was the main cause of vision loss. However, it's now known that there has to be other factors involved because people with normal IOP can suffer vision loss from glaucoma.
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common form of the disease and affects close to 3 million Americans, and is caused by blocked drainage tubes in the eye. Pressure in the eye rises because the excess fluid can't drain out of the eye. With open angle glaucoma the drainage canals appear to be open, but are blocked lower down the canal. No symptoms or early warning signs, just a gradual loss of sight may occur if undiagnosed and untreated. Medication is available and the condition responds well especially when diagnosed and treated early.
Angle Closure Glaucoma
Also known as acute or narrow angle glaucoma, is much rarer and the pressure rises rapidly. The iris isn't as wide and open as it should be and bunches up over the drainage canals when the pupil expands rapidly when going directly from a brightly lighted room to a dark room. The treatment is usually surgery to remove a small part of the outer edge of the iris. Usually this treatment is long lasting.
Symptoms may include headaches, eye pain, nausea, rainbows around lights at night, and very blurred vision.
Secondary Glaucoma
This can be caused by an injury to the eye, a tumor, inflamation, some drugs such as steroids, or as a complication of diabetes or cataracts. Can be mild or severe, and treatment depends on whether it is open or closed angle.
Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma is a form of open angle glaucoma caused by a flaky dandruff like substance peels off the outer edge of the lens within the eye and clogs the drainage canals. Treatment is either medication or surgery. This is common in those of Scandinavian descent.
Pigmentary Glaucoma is a form of secondary open angle glaucoma and occurs when the pigment granules in the back of the iris (the colored part of the eye) break into the clear fluid inside the eye. These tiny pigment granules slowly clog the drainage canals. Treatment usually includes medications or surgery.
Traumatic Glaucoma is an open angle glaucoma caused by an injury to the eye. This can devlop immediately after the injury or years later and be caused by either a bruise or penetration of the eye.
Neovascular Glaucoma is the abnormal formation of new blood vessels on the iris and over the eye’s drainage channels that can cause an open angle glaucoma. This never occurs on it's own and is usually caused by diabetes, and is very difficult to treat.
Irido Corneal Endothelial Syndrome (ICE) is rare and usually affects only one eye. Cells on the back surface of the cornea spread over the eye’s drainage canals and clog them. These cells also form adhesions that bind the iris to the cornea. Light skinned females are most at risk for this type of glaucoma. Treatment includes medication and surgery.
Normal Tension Glaucoma (NTG)
The optic nerve is damaged even though the pressure in the eye is normal. Doctors don't know why this happens. According to The Glaucoma Research Foundation, those most at risk are people with a family history of normal tension glaucoma, people of Japanese ancestry, and people with a history of systemic heart disease, such as irregular heart rhythm. Treatment includes medication, laser surgery, and filtering surgery.
Pediatric Glaucoma
Includes congenital glaucoma as well as all glaucoma present in the pediatric age set. It's very important to catch glaucoma quickly in this group to prevent blindness.
My mother has glaucoma that's treated with medication. She is doing well and hasn't slowed down a bit.
Dale L. Edwards
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Income from Your Blog
Blogitive.com will pay you to write in your blog. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it, but it is true. You can make money online. Blogitive.com will pay you each week to write in your blog.
The popularity of your Blog is important. Qualify for Blogitive’s program by submitting your blog into RSS Syndication sites like FeedBurner.com, commenting on other people's blogs, submitting to blog directories, and asking friends to add you to their blogroll. Once your Blog qualifies, you can participate in Blogitive’s web release program and start making money online. You will usually make $5 per post. There are people who are making $1000 a week with Blogitive, but they have multiple blogs. You can submit as many blogs as you want to as long as they meet Blogitive's requirements.
This is just one way to make money with Blogitive.com. Two new programs will launch soon - NewsNerve and Ghost Writing. NewsNerve is a service that will display relevant syndicated news headlines and allow you to earn money from every click that your visitors make. Ghost Writing doesn't require a blog, just good writing.
Blogitive will roll out more ways to make money as they come off the drawing board and implemented.
The popularity of your Blog is important. Qualify for Blogitive’s program by submitting your blog into RSS Syndication sites like FeedBurner.com, commenting on other people's blogs, submitting to blog directories, and asking friends to add you to their blogroll. Once your Blog qualifies, you can participate in Blogitive’s web release program and start making money online. You will usually make $5 per post. There are people who are making $1000 a week with Blogitive, but they have multiple blogs. You can submit as many blogs as you want to as long as they meet Blogitive's requirements.
This is just one way to make money with Blogitive.com. Two new programs will launch soon - NewsNerve and Ghost Writing. NewsNerve is a service that will display relevant syndicated news headlines and allow you to earn money from every click that your visitors make. Ghost Writing doesn't require a blog, just good writing.
Blogitive will roll out more ways to make money as they come off the drawing board and implemented.
West Nile Vision Problems
A recent study indicates that people with severe West Nile Virus symptoms, which can include vision problems, may develop lesions and scarring in the retina. From 2002 through 2005, researchers at Southern California Desert Retina Consultants in Palm Springs, California studied West Nile Virus cases involving seven people who developed vision problems.
Multifocal chorioretinitis was the most common condition found among the patients, and may be a marker of the worst forms of West Nile. Other vision problems associated with West Nile are optic nerve damage and inflammation causing reduced blood flow. They also found that diabetics were more likely to develop serious eye problems from West Nile.
The US Center for Disease Control say that 1 out of every 150 cases is severe and that about 3,000 people were diagnosed with West Nile in 2005.
Dale L. Edwards
Multifocal chorioretinitis was the most common condition found among the patients, and may be a marker of the worst forms of West Nile. Other vision problems associated with West Nile are optic nerve damage and inflammation causing reduced blood flow. They also found that diabetics were more likely to develop serious eye problems from West Nile.
The US Center for Disease Control say that 1 out of every 150 cases is severe and that about 3,000 people were diagnosed with West Nile in 2005.
Dale L. Edwards
A New Way to Detect Alzheimers?
A new optical scanning system may be able to detect the beginning stages of Alzheimers disease. The scanning system detects protiens within the lens of the eye that herald Alzheimer's.
This system has only been tested on mice at the moment, but the findings are hopeful. Neuroptix Corp., a diagnostics company located in Acton, Massachusetts, is going to develope the Optiscan System as an inexpensive diagnostic tool to potentially detect Alzheimer's in a clinical setting.
This is really good if they can detect Alzheimer's in it's early stages. This is a terrible disease that steals a person's mind. My father and my husband's grandmother had this disease. It's so sad when they don't have any idea who you are.
Dale L. Edwards
This system has only been tested on mice at the moment, but the findings are hopeful. Neuroptix Corp., a diagnostics company located in Acton, Massachusetts, is going to develope the Optiscan System as an inexpensive diagnostic tool to potentially detect Alzheimer's in a clinical setting.
This is really good if they can detect Alzheimer's in it's early stages. This is a terrible disease that steals a person's mind. My father and my husband's grandmother had this disease. It's so sad when they don't have any idea who you are.
Dale L. Edwards
Silver and Gold Investments
Monex Deposit Company (MDC) has been America's gold, silver and precious metals investment leader for the past 30 years. It prides itself in having the best United States silver coin prices and programs in the silver coin industry. A large and dedicated staff of hard asset professionals are committed to serving their customer's precious metals investment needs and offering a convenient market with competitive precious metals prices.
Since 1990 world demand for silver has exceeded annual production. Above ground stockpiles of silver bullion are low and shrinking rapidly. The U.S. government - once the largest stockpiler of silver on the planet - has dumped billions and billions of ounces of silver bars onto the world market since WWII, effectively depressing the silver price. Today the U.S. government is buying silver because the government stockpiles of silver are gone.
For centuries gold has been the best way to preserve wealth. Throughout history man has had an affinity for gold boullion. Today, the beauty of a gold bar lies in its proven ability to diversify investments, protect wealth and preserve one's purchasing power.
Silver and gold are available as coins and ingots.
Since 1990 world demand for silver has exceeded annual production. Above ground stockpiles of silver bullion are low and shrinking rapidly. The U.S. government - once the largest stockpiler of silver on the planet - has dumped billions and billions of ounces of silver bars onto the world market since WWII, effectively depressing the silver price. Today the U.S. government is buying silver because the government stockpiles of silver are gone.
For centuries gold has been the best way to preserve wealth. Throughout history man has had an affinity for gold boullion. Today, the beauty of a gold bar lies in its proven ability to diversify investments, protect wealth and preserve one's purchasing power.
Silver and gold are available as coins and ingots.
The Low Vision Center
I've been working with a lady from the state who sent me to the Sight Center. For some reason I keep trying to call it the Low Vision Center. They help those with low vision to make the best use of the vision they have left. They don't diagnose the problem their expertise is in helping those with low vision with different aids such as magnifiers, glasses, filters (I still call them sunglasses), and more.
I really didn't think that I would be able to wear glasses because the glasses I received from the ophlamologist just made things worse. Come to find out, the prescription he gave me was only to correct problems from side to side. I also need glasses with prisms that correct my up and down problems as well. The minute I move my eyes the prescription I need for prisms change. From what the doctor says my eyes need such different prescriptions for each eye that to correct these problems completely I would need dozens of glasses.
We'll just have to see how these glasses work out. I'm hoping to be able to read books again. I really miss holding a book in my hands and reading it.
Dale L. Edwards
I really didn't think that I would be able to wear glasses because the glasses I received from the ophlamologist just made things worse. Come to find out, the prescription he gave me was only to correct problems from side to side. I also need glasses with prisms that correct my up and down problems as well. The minute I move my eyes the prescription I need for prisms change. From what the doctor says my eyes need such different prescriptions for each eye that to correct these problems completely I would need dozens of glasses.
We'll just have to see how these glasses work out. I'm hoping to be able to read books again. I really miss holding a book in my hands and reading it.
Dale L. Edwards
Coping with Low Vision
I'm fortunate that my vision problems seem to be due to muscle problems that are hereditary, my son's left eye turned in and my cousin also has problems, and not one of the really terrible conditions I've been reading about and sharing with you. I plan to continue my research into causes, research, and aids for low vision, but I have hopes that I may have found an answer to some of my vision problems.
I am getting 2 pairs of glasses, one for distance, the other for reading and the computer. I'm also getting filters for glare (I call them sunglasses), one clipon for inside and one clipon for outside. How I'm going to manage to go from one pair to another and keep them straight is going to be interesting. At least they will be different colors. All I have to remember is which one is which.
I'll let you know how I get on once I actually have them in my hand.
Dale L. Edwards
I am getting 2 pairs of glasses, one for distance, the other for reading and the computer. I'm also getting filters for glare (I call them sunglasses), one clipon for inside and one clipon for outside. How I'm going to manage to go from one pair to another and keep them straight is going to be interesting. At least they will be different colors. All I have to remember is which one is which.
I'll let you know how I get on once I actually have them in my hand.
Dale L. Edwards
College Online
Capella University, founded in 1993, is an accredited online university offering graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, and psychology.
This distance learning mba is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. They are also a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, located at 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504.
The university also offers bachelor degrees in business and information technology. They offer 76 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 16 certificate specializations. At this time they serve 16,000 students located in all 50 states as well as 63 countries. As a national leader in online education, Capella is committed to academic excellence.
Capella University is a subsidiary of the Capella Education Company headquartered in Minneapolis.
This distance learning mba is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. They are also a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, located at 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504.
The university also offers bachelor degrees in business and information technology. They offer 76 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 16 certificate specializations. At this time they serve 16,000 students located in all 50 states as well as 63 countries. As a national leader in online education, Capella is committed to academic excellence.
Capella University is a subsidiary of the Capella Education Company headquartered in Minneapolis.
Still Here
I need to apologize to my readers because I haven't been writing in my blog. I have no excuse, I just have been busy doing other things. Until I started looking at the dates of my last posts, I didn't realize how long it had been since I last posted. I've got to find a way to earn income and I had been trying to do that with my blogs and writing. I think you have noticed some posts that are basically advertisements for other companies in the blog. I've tried to make the advertisements interesting and relate to the blog's subject matter, but I feel that some of the posts were a reach. I still need to do these advertisements, but I will give you a heads up. If I see a way to slant them toward low vision, I will, but some of them just don't slant very well.
The next 3 posts I'm doing are for Blogitive, which pays me to put their ads in my posts. If you are interested in doing this, you can go to blogitive.com and submit your blog to run these advertisements. They pay weekly, and they are very good about paying, it's first come first served to get the assignments, so you have to keep a close eye on their site, but it's worth it.
I will get back to low vision very soon.
Dale L. Edwards
The next 3 posts I'm doing are for Blogitive, which pays me to put their ads in my posts. If you are interested in doing this, you can go to blogitive.com and submit your blog to run these advertisements. They pay weekly, and they are very good about paying, it's first come first served to get the assignments, so you have to keep a close eye on their site, but it's worth it.
I will get back to low vision very soon.
Dale L. Edwards
Monday, October 09, 2006
Coping With Low Vision
Low Vision is a condition which is not remediable by using traditional corrective methods such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery. There are a myriad of causes which give rise to Low Vision, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, head trauma and stroke.
With no traditional remedy available, learning coping strategies is, therefore, crucial to improving a person's quality of life. Mobility, driving and employment may be all adversely affected and this can understandably lead to depression.
We all prize our independence. Below are some coping strategies which can minimize loss of independence and so maximize a low vision sufferer's quality of life.
As we age, even those of us fortunate enough to have healthy eyes need more light to perform our normal everyday tasks. For someone with low vision lighting is critically important. Good general lighting, along with avoidance of glare and shadows, ensure that what vision remains is fully used.
To reduce glare always use shades to cover bare light bulbs, draw blinds or drapes at windows, place seating away from the light source at a window and avoid shiny floors and table tops. Using matte paper is also a good idea when reading and writing.
To eliminate shadows when doing close work, use two adjustable lamps positioned on either side of the work rather than having one lamp directly in front. When writing place the lamps on the opposite side of the writing hand. Shadows can also be prevented by locating the lower edge of the lampshade just below eye level.
While it is important to control the intensity of light and the glare, contrast is a key coping strategy for people with low vision. The greater the contrast, the easier it is to locate and use familiar objects in the home.
So, pour dark coffee into a white cup and use white dishes for eating dark colored food (and vice versa). If measuring out coffee, or any other dark-colored food use white measuring cups. For flour and sugar, on the other hand, use black measuring cups. Black coasters placed on white counters make a good foil for a glass of milk or pills, and make them easy to find. Spillages are also less likely to occur.
On doors and drawers install contrasting colored handles and use high contrast tape or contrasting colored stickers to mark oven dials, microwave switches, thermostats and salt and pepper shakers. As a handy reference point place a dot or sticker on the #5 to help with dialing. The rest of the numbers are then easier to locate.
In the bathroom a dark bathmat will make a white tub more easily visible and a dark toilet seat cover will do the same for a white toilet. In the shower a conditioner/shampoo dispenser is very useful, as is a magnifying mirror for shaving and applying makeup.
To aid mobility put contrasting strips on the edges of steps to make them more easily visible and prevent the steps from fading away out of sight. Mobility can be improved by using contrasting colored molding or having the person with visual impairment lightly hold your bent elbow when first encountering unfamiliar steps or obstacles.
Outside, gates and doors should be painted different colors from the fences and walls so that entrances are made easier to find. Light-colored edging should mark the boundary between lawn and flowerbeds, and always make flowers more visible by choosing a contrasting background, for example a white siding for vibrant red flowers.
Finally, if we are looking at optimising the environment of a person with low vision, there is one very important factor that has to be considered. This is the risk from passive "second-hand" smoke to eye health.
The risks of developing eye disease from smoking have been well known for a long time. Smoking reduces the level of oxygen to the eye which, to function well, requires an oxygen-rich environment. Recent research has shown, however, that similar risks exist from secondhand smoke.
A person with low vision, living with a smoker and subject to regular smoke exposure, faces additional damage to the eye equal to the effects of aging. To preserve all remaining vision it is essential that people not only stop smoking but live in a completely smoke free environment. Not doing so renders any coping strategies largely redundant.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
© 2006 Maureen P Cook
Maureen Cook writes articles for publication from her home in England. In this article, she explains how to cope with Low Vision. To read more, go to Low Vision.
With no traditional remedy available, learning coping strategies is, therefore, crucial to improving a person's quality of life. Mobility, driving and employment may be all adversely affected and this can understandably lead to depression.
We all prize our independence. Below are some coping strategies which can minimize loss of independence and so maximize a low vision sufferer's quality of life.
As we age, even those of us fortunate enough to have healthy eyes need more light to perform our normal everyday tasks. For someone with low vision lighting is critically important. Good general lighting, along with avoidance of glare and shadows, ensure that what vision remains is fully used.
To reduce glare always use shades to cover bare light bulbs, draw blinds or drapes at windows, place seating away from the light source at a window and avoid shiny floors and table tops. Using matte paper is also a good idea when reading and writing.
To eliminate shadows when doing close work, use two adjustable lamps positioned on either side of the work rather than having one lamp directly in front. When writing place the lamps on the opposite side of the writing hand. Shadows can also be prevented by locating the lower edge of the lampshade just below eye level.
While it is important to control the intensity of light and the glare, contrast is a key coping strategy for people with low vision. The greater the contrast, the easier it is to locate and use familiar objects in the home.
So, pour dark coffee into a white cup and use white dishes for eating dark colored food (and vice versa). If measuring out coffee, or any other dark-colored food use white measuring cups. For flour and sugar, on the other hand, use black measuring cups. Black coasters placed on white counters make a good foil for a glass of milk or pills, and make them easy to find. Spillages are also less likely to occur.
On doors and drawers install contrasting colored handles and use high contrast tape or contrasting colored stickers to mark oven dials, microwave switches, thermostats and salt and pepper shakers. As a handy reference point place a dot or sticker on the #5 to help with dialing. The rest of the numbers are then easier to locate.
In the bathroom a dark bathmat will make a white tub more easily visible and a dark toilet seat cover will do the same for a white toilet. In the shower a conditioner/shampoo dispenser is very useful, as is a magnifying mirror for shaving and applying makeup.
To aid mobility put contrasting strips on the edges of steps to make them more easily visible and prevent the steps from fading away out of sight. Mobility can be improved by using contrasting colored molding or having the person with visual impairment lightly hold your bent elbow when first encountering unfamiliar steps or obstacles.
Outside, gates and doors should be painted different colors from the fences and walls so that entrances are made easier to find. Light-colored edging should mark the boundary between lawn and flowerbeds, and always make flowers more visible by choosing a contrasting background, for example a white siding for vibrant red flowers.
Finally, if we are looking at optimising the environment of a person with low vision, there is one very important factor that has to be considered. This is the risk from passive "second-hand" smoke to eye health.
The risks of developing eye disease from smoking have been well known for a long time. Smoking reduces the level of oxygen to the eye which, to function well, requires an oxygen-rich environment. Recent research has shown, however, that similar risks exist from secondhand smoke.
A person with low vision, living with a smoker and subject to regular smoke exposure, faces additional damage to the eye equal to the effects of aging. To preserve all remaining vision it is essential that people not only stop smoking but live in a completely smoke free environment. Not doing so renders any coping strategies largely redundant.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
© 2006 Maureen P Cook
Maureen Cook writes articles for publication from her home in England. In this article, she explains how to cope with Low Vision. To read more, go to Low Vision.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Graduate Degrees
Capella University is an accredited distance learning institution that was founded in 1993 and headquartered in Minneapolis WI. They offer graduate degrees in business, information technology, education, human services, and psychology as well as bachelor's degrees in business and information technology.
Capella offers 76 career specialties and 16 certificates in these areas of study. There are currently about 16,000 students from all 50 states and 63 countries. They are a national leader in internet education, and are committed to academic excellence.
Sometimes it's easier to fit schooling in when you can work at your own pace. Education is very important and online learning makes it easier to take a class or two that interest you, or go for your bachelors degree.
Dale L Edwards
Capella offers 76 career specialties and 16 certificates in these areas of study. There are currently about 16,000 students from all 50 states and 63 countries. They are a national leader in internet education, and are committed to academic excellence.
Sometimes it's easier to fit schooling in when you can work at your own pace. Education is very important and online learning makes it easier to take a class or two that interest you, or go for your bachelors degree.
Dale L Edwards
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Tips for Taking Wedding Pictures
I've found taking pictures to get more difficult as I get older and those tiny little viewers regular cameras have are just impossible anymore. Using a digital camera helps especially if you look for one with a large viewer. With some planning, we should be able to take the pictures of our wedding, or in my case the wedding of one of my children. I've only one left to get married, but I was thinking about doing the pictures myself when he gets married.
To get the wedding camera shots we want we need to do a little advance planning. We need to consult with someone who is knowledgable about cameras and what would be best for our situation and special concerns. We also need to practice with the equipment, so when the day comes no matter how nervous we are it'll be second nature to use our equipment.
Getting children to sit still long enough to take their pictures can be a problem, especially if they are bored and hungry. Bored because a wedding really isn't that exciting to a child and hungry because there is nothing they want to eat. A way to overcome the boredom problem would be to cover child size tables with brown butcher paper and have enough small boxes of crayons for each child to do their artwork on the butcher paper. A little forethought about entertainment for the children will make the event go much smoother. Children are picky eaters and things will go much more smoothly if you take their menu preferences into consideration. Have kid friendly food like hot dogs and chips for them. It'll be worth the little extra work you have to go to make sure they have something they will like to eat.
Be prepared for any type of weather. It would be sad if the bride's dress was ruined because of inclement weather. When making arrangements be sure to prepare for bad weather and hope it's a beautiful sunny day. Golf umbrellas are a good precaution because they are big enough for two, and would make an appealing picture of the newlyweds. Think about mud if you're planning a reception outside and prepare accordingly.
Your pictures will last a lifetime and if the flowers look droopy in your wedding pictures, your pictures won't give you as much pleasure as they would if you weren't reminded of droopy flowers every time you look at the pictures. Might even keep you from wanting to look at them as often as you would if the flowers looked better. Keep the flowers in a cool place away from sunny windows and radiators. Soft flowers like gardenias, lilies of the valley, and tulips are more likely to wilt than sunflowers, gerbera daisies, dahlias, lilies, and hydrangeas which have woody stems. Take good care of your flowers and they'll stand tall. Last, but not least, be sure to wash the vases with bacterial soap so nothing in the container will promote decay.
Be sure to write all details down, even those changes decided over the phone. I don't know about you, but I can't remember all the details. It's easy to get confused about what was agreed on if you don't have it written down. You want all the details in front of you when you go to write out the checks for the bills. Have the vendors e-mail a short note outlining what was agreed on to make sure you and the vendor are on the same page.
If your guests have to travel any distance from the place of the wedding to the location of the reception, be sure each guest understands where they are going and how to get there. Especially those who are from out of town. You don't want to lose any guests, you want them all to be there to celebrate the wonderful occasion.
Be prepared for problems and hope there are none.
Dale L. Edwards
To get the wedding camera shots we want we need to do a little advance planning. We need to consult with someone who is knowledgable about cameras and what would be best for our situation and special concerns. We also need to practice with the equipment, so when the day comes no matter how nervous we are it'll be second nature to use our equipment.
Getting children to sit still long enough to take their pictures can be a problem, especially if they are bored and hungry. Bored because a wedding really isn't that exciting to a child and hungry because there is nothing they want to eat. A way to overcome the boredom problem would be to cover child size tables with brown butcher paper and have enough small boxes of crayons for each child to do their artwork on the butcher paper. A little forethought about entertainment for the children will make the event go much smoother. Children are picky eaters and things will go much more smoothly if you take their menu preferences into consideration. Have kid friendly food like hot dogs and chips for them. It'll be worth the little extra work you have to go to make sure they have something they will like to eat.
Be prepared for any type of weather. It would be sad if the bride's dress was ruined because of inclement weather. When making arrangements be sure to prepare for bad weather and hope it's a beautiful sunny day. Golf umbrellas are a good precaution because they are big enough for two, and would make an appealing picture of the newlyweds. Think about mud if you're planning a reception outside and prepare accordingly.
Your pictures will last a lifetime and if the flowers look droopy in your wedding pictures, your pictures won't give you as much pleasure as they would if you weren't reminded of droopy flowers every time you look at the pictures. Might even keep you from wanting to look at them as often as you would if the flowers looked better. Keep the flowers in a cool place away from sunny windows and radiators. Soft flowers like gardenias, lilies of the valley, and tulips are more likely to wilt than sunflowers, gerbera daisies, dahlias, lilies, and hydrangeas which have woody stems. Take good care of your flowers and they'll stand tall. Last, but not least, be sure to wash the vases with bacterial soap so nothing in the container will promote decay.
Be sure to write all details down, even those changes decided over the phone. I don't know about you, but I can't remember all the details. It's easy to get confused about what was agreed on if you don't have it written down. You want all the details in front of you when you go to write out the checks for the bills. Have the vendors e-mail a short note outlining what was agreed on to make sure you and the vendor are on the same page.
If your guests have to travel any distance from the place of the wedding to the location of the reception, be sure each guest understands where they are going and how to get there. Especially those who are from out of town. You don't want to lose any guests, you want them all to be there to celebrate the wonderful occasion.
Be prepared for problems and hope there are none.
Dale L. Edwards
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Coloboma
A coloboma is a hole in the structure of the eye. One eye only or both eyes can have a coloboma. This is usually a congenital caused when two parts of the eye doesn't connect before birth. The effects of a coloboma on vision varies widely from one person to another depending where the hole(s) is and how big it is.
I had never heard of this condition until I started researching low vision. There is a support group at Yahoo! for those with this condition. It's a self-help group with 498 members when I checked the site. The group also has a website with more information.
There are so many different types of colobomo that I am just going to give an overview of the condition. The MACS site is concerned mainly with children with the condition and their families. It's devestating for a parent to be told their baby is less than perfect no matter what the medical condition involved.
The CHARGE Family Support group has a website about this condition. This is a rare condition that affects more than one part of the body without a known cause. The name of the condition, CHARGE, is a first letter list of the conditions most commonly associated with CHARGE. C stands for coloboma, H stands for heart defects, A stands for atresia of the choanae, an abnormal narrowing or blockage of the nasal passages at birth, R stands for retardation of growth and developmental delay, G stands for genital anomalies, and E stands for ear anomalies.
Uveal Coloboma occurs when the normally occuring gap in the eye, the optic fissure, fails to close after the 5th week and occurs in about 1 in 10,000 live births. There is also a possibility the condition is hereditary. It's been noted that sometimes more than one family member has the condition.
The Handbook of Ocular Disease Management is filled with pictures of eyes from a list of eye diseases and conditions. They have pictures of the inner eye that has a coloboma. The Digital Reference of Ophthamology also has many pictures of congenital conditions affecting the eye.
We'll delve farther into the different congenital conditions in later posts. If you have a condition that you would like me to research first, please leave a comment, and I'll see what I can find.
Dale L. Edwards
I had never heard of this condition until I started researching low vision. There is a support group at Yahoo! for those with this condition. It's a self-help group with 498 members when I checked the site. The group also has a website with more information.
There are so many different types of colobomo that I am just going to give an overview of the condition. The MACS site is concerned mainly with children with the condition and their families. It's devestating for a parent to be told their baby is less than perfect no matter what the medical condition involved.
The CHARGE Family Support group has a website about this condition. This is a rare condition that affects more than one part of the body without a known cause. The name of the condition, CHARGE, is a first letter list of the conditions most commonly associated with CHARGE. C stands for coloboma, H stands for heart defects, A stands for atresia of the choanae, an abnormal narrowing or blockage of the nasal passages at birth, R stands for retardation of growth and developmental delay, G stands for genital anomalies, and E stands for ear anomalies.
Uveal Coloboma occurs when the normally occuring gap in the eye, the optic fissure, fails to close after the 5th week and occurs in about 1 in 10,000 live births. There is also a possibility the condition is hereditary. It's been noted that sometimes more than one family member has the condition.
The Handbook of Ocular Disease Management is filled with pictures of eyes from a list of eye diseases and conditions. They have pictures of the inner eye that has a coloboma. The Digital Reference of Ophthamology also has many pictures of congenital conditions affecting the eye.
We'll delve farther into the different congenital conditions in later posts. If you have a condition that you would like me to research first, please leave a comment, and I'll see what I can find.
Dale L. Edwards
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis Pigmentosa is the name given to the group of inherited eye diseases that affect the retina. The retina consists of rods and cones which process light. When the rods and cones no longer function we loose sight. Rods are located around the edge of the retina and help us see images in our peripheral vision and they help us see in dimmly lighted areas. Cone cells are located in the macula are responsible for fine visual detail in the center of the visual field and to perceive color. Together rods and cone cells are responsible to change light into electrical impulses that carries the image to our brain.
RP is the result of the gradual degeneration of the rods and cones of your retina. Night blindness is usually the first symptom followed by a gradual loss of peripheral vision, however in some types of retinitis pigmentosa the cones are affect first and cause color problems and fuzzy center vision.
RP is a genetic disorder that is usually hereditary. The link will lead you to John Wenberg's Retinitis Pigmentosa Page, a veritable gold mine of information about RP. There are several different ways the disorder is passed on to the next generation. Even members of the same family don't show the same degree of disability. Some may have obvious problems with their sight from childhood on. Others may not notice symptoms until they are much older.
Accepting and living with the vision loss RP causes is difficult because you know that it won't get better. Not only it won't get better, but it's very likely to keep getting worse. Now, you can panic or learn how to regain as much independence as you can through low vision aids. A normally sighted person who runs into fog suddenly on the highway has two options; panic or deal with the situation by taking precautions. The way you deal with RP will determine the quality of life you and your family have.
Vitamin A has recently shown promise in slowing the progress of RP in a study of the effects of Vitamin A on RP. Vitamin A can be toxic in large doses, so you need to take care when you take these supplements and only take 15000 IU. Don't take more than that. While Vitamin A helps, a dose of 400 IU of Vitamin E causes the RP to worsen more quickly. Consult with your doctor before starting a regimin of Vitamin A.
Dale L. Edwards
RP is the result of the gradual degeneration of the rods and cones of your retina. Night blindness is usually the first symptom followed by a gradual loss of peripheral vision, however in some types of retinitis pigmentosa the cones are affect first and cause color problems and fuzzy center vision.
RP is a genetic disorder that is usually hereditary. The link will lead you to John Wenberg's Retinitis Pigmentosa Page, a veritable gold mine of information about RP. There are several different ways the disorder is passed on to the next generation. Even members of the same family don't show the same degree of disability. Some may have obvious problems with their sight from childhood on. Others may not notice symptoms until they are much older.
Accepting and living with the vision loss RP causes is difficult because you know that it won't get better. Not only it won't get better, but it's very likely to keep getting worse. Now, you can panic or learn how to regain as much independence as you can through low vision aids. A normally sighted person who runs into fog suddenly on the highway has two options; panic or deal with the situation by taking precautions. The way you deal with RP will determine the quality of life you and your family have.
Vitamin A has recently shown promise in slowing the progress of RP in a study of the effects of Vitamin A on RP. Vitamin A can be toxic in large doses, so you need to take care when you take these supplements and only take 15000 IU. Don't take more than that. While Vitamin A helps, a dose of 400 IU of Vitamin E causes the RP to worsen more quickly. Consult with your doctor before starting a regimin of Vitamin A.
Dale L. Edwards
Friday, August 25, 2006
Outrageous Lawyer Fees
This is off topic, but I wanted to share with you this story I found about one of the widows of 9/11. I'm sure you know about the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund which was set up for the families of the victims. The lawyers the victims' families hired were not supposed to charge the families an outrageous fee for his services, but the lawyer one widow hired charged her $2M for his services.
She refused to pay him, I say good for her, and he filed a $2M suit against her in federal court. She hired the law firm of Simmons Jannace & Stagg to defend her against this lawsuit.
They moved to dismiss the suit and argued that the federal court had no jurisdiction over a lawyer collecting his fee. Since state court was already investigating the amount of the fee, the federal court abstained from exercising jurisdiction if or until the state court finishes the case.
According to my sources this is the first time the federal court decided that attorneys’ fee disputes arising out of the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund should be decided in the state courts.
This was just an interesting tidbit I picked up.
Dale L. Edwards
She refused to pay him, I say good for her, and he filed a $2M suit against her in federal court. She hired the law firm of Simmons Jannace & Stagg to defend her against this lawsuit.
They moved to dismiss the suit and argued that the federal court had no jurisdiction over a lawyer collecting his fee. Since state court was already investigating the amount of the fee, the federal court abstained from exercising jurisdiction if or until the state court finishes the case.
According to my sources this is the first time the federal court decided that attorneys’ fee disputes arising out of the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund should be decided in the state courts.
This was just an interesting tidbit I picked up.
Dale L. Edwards
Monday, August 21, 2006
New Accessible Search Engine at Google
I stumbled across Google's new Accessible Search site that's being tested in beta. I really like it better than Google's regular search, much easier to use. Accessible uses Google's PageRank system and added an evaluation to determine how easy the web page is to use. This is a great step forward because Google has shown the ability to link PageRank to accessibility. This will make Accessible Search much more useful to a wider range of people.
I found the results interesting when I used the search term "low vision," because Accessible returned 11 sites while Google only returned 7 sites, but had related advertisements on the page, which can be useful if I see an interesting advertisement, but not helpful when you're looking for noncommercial information. Both engines had The Low Vision Gateway as #1, but they didn't agree from there. Accessible returned several international sites on the first page while all of Google's returns on the first page were based in the US.
"Flowers" was the next search term I used, and again I found that Accessible had more international results (Google had none on the first page). Only 3 American companies showed up on the first page and a company from the UK had the first position.
Why is the difference so great between the two search engines? Accessible searches for sites that use Web Standards, and are in compliance with Web Accessibility Guidelines. In fact I learned that 2 of the 3 American companies on Accessible's first return page used the same search engine marketing firm.
The next search term I used was "online marketing" and both Google and Accessible had USWeb as #1 on the first return page. I used "Internet marketing" as my next search term and USWeb was #2 on Accessible and #8 on Google.
It would make a lot of sense for Google to use these guidelines in their main search engine. A website that uses Accessible Search Guidelines is using a road map to a better site. When I am looking for a search engine marketing firm, USWeb's track record makes it the one I would choose.
Governement and education websites already comply with the Accessible Search Guidelines.
The link to a site that explains the guidelines is in the Link section to the right along with the link to Accessible Search. Go ahead and try it out and compare the two search engines.
Dale L. Edwards
I found the results interesting when I used the search term "low vision," because Accessible returned 11 sites while Google only returned 7 sites, but had related advertisements on the page, which can be useful if I see an interesting advertisement, but not helpful when you're looking for noncommercial information. Both engines had The Low Vision Gateway as #1, but they didn't agree from there. Accessible returned several international sites on the first page while all of Google's returns on the first page were based in the US.
"Flowers" was the next search term I used, and again I found that Accessible had more international results (Google had none on the first page). Only 3 American companies showed up on the first page and a company from the UK had the first position.
Why is the difference so great between the two search engines? Accessible searches for sites that use Web Standards, and are in compliance with Web Accessibility Guidelines. In fact I learned that 2 of the 3 American companies on Accessible's first return page used the same search engine marketing firm.
The next search term I used was "online marketing" and both Google and Accessible had USWeb as #1 on the first return page. I used "Internet marketing" as my next search term and USWeb was #2 on Accessible and #8 on Google.
It would make a lot of sense for Google to use these guidelines in their main search engine. A website that uses Accessible Search Guidelines is using a road map to a better site. When I am looking for a search engine marketing firm, USWeb's track record makes it the one I would choose.
Governement and education websites already comply with the Accessible Search Guidelines.
The link to a site that explains the guidelines is in the Link section to the right along with the link to Accessible Search. Go ahead and try it out and compare the two search engines.
Dale L. Edwards
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Diabetic Retinopathy
My husband is diabetic, fortunately he doesn't have any complications right now, but if we don't get his blood sugar under control, his next exam in a year might tell a different story. He's been diabetic since the early 1980's and was able to control the diabetes with diet. However, that all changed about 1996. His blood sugar spiked up to 394, and he started taking the pills. That worked for a while and his blood sugar was at acceptable levels. In 1999 his blood sugar went out of control and they added another pill to his regimen. It has been in and out of control ever since. He's taking insulin and 2 different pills, but his blood sugar is still close, but under 200.
He is very much at risk for all kinds of nasty conditions that go along with diabetes.
Diabetic Retinopathy is just one of the conditions of the eye diabetics are subject to. Background Diabetic Retinopathy, Clinically Significant Macular Edema, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, Cranial Nerve Palsy, Cystoid Macular Edema, Neovascular Glaucoma, Tractional Retinal Detachment, and Vitreous Hemorrhage are or can be caused by diabetes. I don't think this is a definitive list, but these are the conditions we'll be investigating today.
The Diabetes Mall gives information about the complications of diabetes. They have a section on background diabetic retinopathy, and explains what happens to your eye with this condition. They also explain what microaneurisms, hemorrhages, and hard exudates are and how they affect the eye.
eMedicine from WebMD has a lot of information and links packed into the page on clinically significant macular edema, and it'll take a while to process it all. More information about macular edema.
The Angeles Vision Clinic gives a really good overview of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Includes definition of terms, complications, treatment and more. Really good pictures of proliferative diabetic retinopathy from the Southeastern Eye Center.
The North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society has and excellent page discussing cranial nerve palsy. Discusses symptoms, treatment, pictures, and the good news that it should go away in time.
NegrayJahnle.com and The RetinaSource.com are good sources of information on cystoid macular edema. This will also go away up to one year after condition appears.
The National Eye Institute and IU Optometry Clinic have information on neovascular glaucoma. Any glaucoma can cause blindness because it damages the optic nerve.
The Retina Center and Medscape Today supply symptoms, treatments, and prognosis of tractional retinal detatchment.
The Macula Center gives an overview of vitreous hemorrhage, causes, treatment, and prognosis. The Vision Similator gives you an idea of what things look like with vitreous hemorrhage. It also has other simulations for various eye conditions.
These are just a few of the websites available for diabetic retinopathy.
Dale L. Edwards
He is very much at risk for all kinds of nasty conditions that go along with diabetes.
Diabetic Retinopathy is just one of the conditions of the eye diabetics are subject to. Background Diabetic Retinopathy, Clinically Significant Macular Edema, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, Cranial Nerve Palsy, Cystoid Macular Edema, Neovascular Glaucoma, Tractional Retinal Detachment, and Vitreous Hemorrhage are or can be caused by diabetes. I don't think this is a definitive list, but these are the conditions we'll be investigating today.
The Diabetes Mall gives information about the complications of diabetes. They have a section on background diabetic retinopathy, and explains what happens to your eye with this condition. They also explain what microaneurisms, hemorrhages, and hard exudates are and how they affect the eye.
eMedicine from WebMD has a lot of information and links packed into the page on clinically significant macular edema, and it'll take a while to process it all. More information about macular edema.
The Angeles Vision Clinic gives a really good overview of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Includes definition of terms, complications, treatment and more. Really good pictures of proliferative diabetic retinopathy from the Southeastern Eye Center.
The North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society has and excellent page discussing cranial nerve palsy. Discusses symptoms, treatment, pictures, and the good news that it should go away in time.
NegrayJahnle.com and The RetinaSource.com are good sources of information on cystoid macular edema. This will also go away up to one year after condition appears.
The National Eye Institute and IU Optometry Clinic have information on neovascular glaucoma. Any glaucoma can cause blindness because it damages the optic nerve.
The Retina Center and Medscape Today supply symptoms, treatments, and prognosis of tractional retinal detatchment.
The Macula Center gives an overview of vitreous hemorrhage, causes, treatment, and prognosis. The Vision Similator gives you an idea of what things look like with vitreous hemorrhage. It also has other simulations for various eye conditions.
These are just a few of the websites available for diabetic retinopathy.
Dale L. Edwards
Monday, August 14, 2006
Macular Degeneration
Today I want to share with you what I've learned about Macular Degeneration. This condition is the leading cause of severe vision loss in those 60 and over. There are two types of macular degeneration, dry and wet . The dry is more common, but the wet causes the severe vision loss.
The dry form of macular degeneration sometimes progresses into the wet form. It's estimated that over 2 million people have the wet form of macular degeneration, and is increasing by 200,000 new cases each year and may be genetic.
The Macular Degeneration Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for macular degeneration. At their website, you will find articles on the success of different treatments being explored. It has lots of good information. They also have a free e-mail newsletter to keep us abreast of all the latest developments in research.
The Macular Degeneration Network is another site packed with information and is a non-profit organization. Dr. Paul Finger is the editor, and the site has more information about him. The site has a forum for the general public that you can browse, but needs a registration before you can post.
I don't know if everyone has heard of the Mayo Clinic, but I have heard about the Mayo Clinic since I was a child. Everyone that had health problems that required a specialist went to the Mayo Clinic. The site is informative, and gives symptoms, causes, prevention, treatments, coping skills, and more.
AllAboutVision.com has a FAQ page and a Q&A page and good information. They have topics about coping, treatment, and a visual example of what the Amsler Grid would look like to someone with macular degeneration.
Medline Plus has links into other websites dealing with macular degeneration. There is a Latest News section, links to the National Institutes of Health, a section of Overviews, Diagnosis and Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention and Screening, Nutrition, Rehabilitation, Management, Specific Conditions, Related Issues, Clinical Trials, Research, Anatomy, Dictionaries and Glossaries, Directories, Organizations, and Children.
The Schepens Eye Research Institute is the largest private research
institute in America. They have sections on Eye Disease Information, Resources, News and Events, and Publications. This site gives you the information right from the horse's mouth so to speak.
MyEyeWorld.com has a good overview of macular degeneration and more pictures depicting what a person sees when they have the condition. There are links to more websites, and has a good section on treatment and causes.
MedLine is a good general information site with lots of links and a section on preventing macular degeneration.
The American Health Assistance Foundation established the Macular Degeneration research program in 1997 to fund research. Free e-mail newsletter, medical news, and illustrations. Also has a way to ask questions about ongoing research.
Bovine Colostrum and Macular Degeneration
Bovine colostrum is the substance produced by the milk glands of cows before the birth of the calf. All mammals produce this substance which helps the newborn transition to taking regular milk. It contains enzymes, antibodies, and protein. The link I've added takes you to an explanation of colostrum and its uses. This is a vendor of colostrum; I would talk to my doctor before using this. I am not in any way endorsing this treatment, I'm just giving information.
Vitamins
This site gives information about what kind of vitamins help macular degeneration, cites studies of the effectiveness of vitamins. Many links connecting to information.
I learned that macular degeneration doesn't have a cure yet, but there are treatments out there. It may have a genetic componet, dry can turn into wet, doesn't cause total blindness, one eye can be affected and then the other eye can start showing signs of macular degeneration, too.
If you're having trouble seeing go to your ophthamologist and get evaluated, because the sooner it's diagnosed, more of your sight can be saved in most cases.
Dale L. Edwards
The dry form of macular degeneration sometimes progresses into the wet form. It's estimated that over 2 million people have the wet form of macular degeneration, and is increasing by 200,000 new cases each year and may be genetic.
The Macular Degeneration Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for macular degeneration. At their website, you will find articles on the success of different treatments being explored. It has lots of good information. They also have a free e-mail newsletter to keep us abreast of all the latest developments in research.
The Macular Degeneration Network is another site packed with information and is a non-profit organization. Dr. Paul Finger is the editor, and the site has more information about him. The site has a forum for the general public that you can browse, but needs a registration before you can post.
I don't know if everyone has heard of the Mayo Clinic, but I have heard about the Mayo Clinic since I was a child. Everyone that had health problems that required a specialist went to the Mayo Clinic. The site is informative, and gives symptoms, causes, prevention, treatments, coping skills, and more.
AllAboutVision.com has a FAQ page and a Q&A page and good information. They have topics about coping, treatment, and a visual example of what the Amsler Grid would look like to someone with macular degeneration.
Medline Plus has links into other websites dealing with macular degeneration. There is a Latest News section, links to the National Institutes of Health, a section of Overviews, Diagnosis and Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention and Screening, Nutrition, Rehabilitation, Management, Specific Conditions, Related Issues, Clinical Trials, Research, Anatomy, Dictionaries and Glossaries, Directories, Organizations, and Children.
The Schepens Eye Research Institute is the largest private research
institute in America. They have sections on Eye Disease Information, Resources, News and Events, and Publications. This site gives you the information right from the horse's mouth so to speak.
MyEyeWorld.com has a good overview of macular degeneration and more pictures depicting what a person sees when they have the condition. There are links to more websites, and has a good section on treatment and causes.
MedLine is a good general information site with lots of links and a section on preventing macular degeneration.
The American Health Assistance Foundation established the Macular Degeneration research program in 1997 to fund research. Free e-mail newsletter, medical news, and illustrations. Also has a way to ask questions about ongoing research.
Bovine Colostrum and Macular Degeneration
Bovine colostrum is the substance produced by the milk glands of cows before the birth of the calf. All mammals produce this substance which helps the newborn transition to taking regular milk. It contains enzymes, antibodies, and protein. The link I've added takes you to an explanation of colostrum and its uses. This is a vendor of colostrum; I would talk to my doctor before using this. I am not in any way endorsing this treatment, I'm just giving information.
Vitamins
This site gives information about what kind of vitamins help macular degeneration, cites studies of the effectiveness of vitamins. Many links connecting to information.
I learned that macular degeneration doesn't have a cure yet, but there are treatments out there. It may have a genetic componet, dry can turn into wet, doesn't cause total blindness, one eye can be affected and then the other eye can start showing signs of macular degeneration, too.
If you're having trouble seeing go to your ophthamologist and get evaluated, because the sooner it's diagnosed, more of your sight can be saved in most cases.
Dale L. Edwards
Monday, July 31, 2006
What Causes Low Vision?
I thought I would start with the causes of low vision because I'm curious about the different conditions that cause low vision.
Each heading is linked to a resource for that condition. At the end there are links for lists of more eye conditions.
Macular Degeneration
This condition is the leading cause of blindness in America. The macula is the part of the retina responsible for sharp, clear images.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes weakens and changes the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye. The blood vessels can begin to leak, swell, or develope brush like branches. Sometimes there are no symptoms, but if you're diabetic you need to have your eyes checked once a year. Left untreated this condition can cause blindness.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
This is a group of inherited diseases that damages the rods and cones in the retina. The rods are affected more than the cones. The rods provide side (peripheral) and night vision, and are affected more than the cones which provide color and clear central vision.
Coloboma
This is a cleft or gap in some part of the eye caused by a defect in the development of the eye.
Floaters and Spots
Specks and strands that seem to float across your field of vision. Actually they are shadows of bits of gel and cells inside the clear fluid that fills the eye.
Acquired (Traumatic) Brain Injury
Low vision can also be caused by head injury, stroke, and brain damage.
Glossary of Eye Conditions
EyeMDLink
Low Vision Causes
Common Eye Conditions Leading to Low Vision
I hope these links will help you in your quest for answers.
Dale L. Edwards
Each heading is linked to a resource for that condition. At the end there are links for lists of more eye conditions.
Macular Degeneration
This condition is the leading cause of blindness in America. The macula is the part of the retina responsible for sharp, clear images.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes weakens and changes the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye. The blood vessels can begin to leak, swell, or develope brush like branches. Sometimes there are no symptoms, but if you're diabetic you need to have your eyes checked once a year. Left untreated this condition can cause blindness.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
This is a group of inherited diseases that damages the rods and cones in the retina. The rods are affected more than the cones. The rods provide side (peripheral) and night vision, and are affected more than the cones which provide color and clear central vision.
Coloboma
This is a cleft or gap in some part of the eye caused by a defect in the development of the eye.
Floaters and Spots
Specks and strands that seem to float across your field of vision. Actually they are shadows of bits of gel and cells inside the clear fluid that fills the eye.
Acquired (Traumatic) Brain Injury
Low vision can also be caused by head injury, stroke, and brain damage.
Glossary of Eye Conditions
EyeMDLink
Low Vision Causes
Common Eye Conditions Leading to Low Vision
I hope these links will help you in your quest for answers.
Dale L. Edwards
Friday, July 28, 2006
My Low Vision
I have low vision. I didn't know what that was when I started on this journey. There are many websites with a definition of what low vision is, but their definitions confuse me. I finally decided to make my own definition. I say low vision is when even with glasses a person doesn't see well.
I started on this journey when I was a child, but it wasn't until 2004 someone took me seriously.
I had trouble seeing the blackboard, but when my mother took me to the eye doctor he couldn't find anything wrong. Finally when I was 12 I was a little nearsighted, so they put me in glasses. I still couldn't see properly, but I think they thought I was just complaining. I can understand that. There is nothing obvious about my eye problems, to look at me you wouldn't think anything was the matter.
I muddled along until I started having trouble doing my job at work in 2002. My eyes just didn't want to focus properly. I've always had problems with transposing numbers, ect, and having trouble following a line of print especially when I was trying to go from a paper on the desk to the computer screen. I would have to be so careful to make sure I was putting the information in the right place.
I went to the ophthamologist, but he couldn't explain why I was having so much trouble. He did find a birth defect in my left eye, but he didn't think it could be giving me all this trouble. So they decided all my problems were due to dry eye. I couldn't do my job, so I quit. I went back to work for a craft store parttime and still had trouble.
This had been getting slowly worse for a long time. I stopped doing counted cross stitch about 10 years ago. It was just impossible to see the little holes even with a magnifier around my neck. I like to do decoupage, but by that time I couldn't see to cut out the pieces of paper you need to use to do that craft. I made my own up, I used stickers instead of cut-out pictures.
My mother was getting older, she'll turn 88 this year, so we decided to relocate close to her. California was too expensive anyway.
We were here about 2 months and she fell and shattered her elbow. That pushed me back into driving. I didn't feel safe, but she couldn't seem to accept that. I went to see a doctor that specialized in children, and he told me that my eyes weren't working together. He put me in prisms, and they seemed to work for awhile, but before a year was out, things were looking the same as when we started with the prisms. That doctor was an optometrist, and I decided I needed to make sure there wasn't anything else wrong, so I went to an ophthamologist. He told me my eyes weren't so bad I needed surgery. My eyes were where they tried to get others to with surgery.
Joy. I can't pass a driving test because I see double when I look around behind me. I see double when I look into the distance, and when I'm trying to do detail work. The last doctor I saw suggested I put a patch over one eye and go get my driver's license. He told me I have 20/20 vision and all I need are reading glasses. To say the least I was not a happy camper.
I want a 2nd opinion. I'm beginning to think that when a chart is backlit like the charts in the doctor's office I see better than when I'm out trying to get around. I can read the computer pretty good, but reading print is very hard. My eyes get tired so fast.
I was talking to a cousin of mine who has also had eye problems all her life. We have so many symptoms in common. Then she was telling about the eye problems her daughter had, too. One of my sons was born with his left eye turned in. I don't know about Beth, but all 3 of the rest of us have the problem on the left side.
I've been having trouble with night vision for a long time. I started having trouble seeing at night after it rained when I was about 32, 27 years ago. I've started having a lot of colored lights in my eyes when I change the intensity of the light I'm seeing in. I've had floaters all my life. I loose things in plain sight. When my youngest was a baby, I had to be very careful where I put the diaper pins especially on a patterned sheet, because I would loose the pins on the bed. Then I would have to feel around to find them.
In this blog I want to explore the causes of low vision, and the aids for low vision. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. I probably won't know the answer, but I'll find out if at all possible.
I want to invite you on the journey.
Dale L. Edwards
I started on this journey when I was a child, but it wasn't until 2004 someone took me seriously.
I had trouble seeing the blackboard, but when my mother took me to the eye doctor he couldn't find anything wrong. Finally when I was 12 I was a little nearsighted, so they put me in glasses. I still couldn't see properly, but I think they thought I was just complaining. I can understand that. There is nothing obvious about my eye problems, to look at me you wouldn't think anything was the matter.
I muddled along until I started having trouble doing my job at work in 2002. My eyes just didn't want to focus properly. I've always had problems with transposing numbers, ect, and having trouble following a line of print especially when I was trying to go from a paper on the desk to the computer screen. I would have to be so careful to make sure I was putting the information in the right place.
I went to the ophthamologist, but he couldn't explain why I was having so much trouble. He did find a birth defect in my left eye, but he didn't think it could be giving me all this trouble. So they decided all my problems were due to dry eye. I couldn't do my job, so I quit. I went back to work for a craft store parttime and still had trouble.
This had been getting slowly worse for a long time. I stopped doing counted cross stitch about 10 years ago. It was just impossible to see the little holes even with a magnifier around my neck. I like to do decoupage, but by that time I couldn't see to cut out the pieces of paper you need to use to do that craft. I made my own up, I used stickers instead of cut-out pictures.
My mother was getting older, she'll turn 88 this year, so we decided to relocate close to her. California was too expensive anyway.
We were here about 2 months and she fell and shattered her elbow. That pushed me back into driving. I didn't feel safe, but she couldn't seem to accept that. I went to see a doctor that specialized in children, and he told me that my eyes weren't working together. He put me in prisms, and they seemed to work for awhile, but before a year was out, things were looking the same as when we started with the prisms. That doctor was an optometrist, and I decided I needed to make sure there wasn't anything else wrong, so I went to an ophthamologist. He told me my eyes weren't so bad I needed surgery. My eyes were where they tried to get others to with surgery.
Joy. I can't pass a driving test because I see double when I look around behind me. I see double when I look into the distance, and when I'm trying to do detail work. The last doctor I saw suggested I put a patch over one eye and go get my driver's license. He told me I have 20/20 vision and all I need are reading glasses. To say the least I was not a happy camper.
I want a 2nd opinion. I'm beginning to think that when a chart is backlit like the charts in the doctor's office I see better than when I'm out trying to get around. I can read the computer pretty good, but reading print is very hard. My eyes get tired so fast.
I was talking to a cousin of mine who has also had eye problems all her life. We have so many symptoms in common. Then she was telling about the eye problems her daughter had, too. One of my sons was born with his left eye turned in. I don't know about Beth, but all 3 of the rest of us have the problem on the left side.
I've been having trouble with night vision for a long time. I started having trouble seeing at night after it rained when I was about 32, 27 years ago. I've started having a lot of colored lights in my eyes when I change the intensity of the light I'm seeing in. I've had floaters all my life. I loose things in plain sight. When my youngest was a baby, I had to be very careful where I put the diaper pins especially on a patterned sheet, because I would loose the pins on the bed. Then I would have to feel around to find them.
In this blog I want to explore the causes of low vision, and the aids for low vision. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. I probably won't know the answer, but I'll find out if at all possible.
I want to invite you on the journey.
Dale L. Edwards
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)