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.
Monday, October 09, 2006
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
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