Vision loss has profound effects on various aspects of life, influencing independence, self-perception, relationships, communication, economic status, expectations, and goals. Tasks that were once effortless now become challenging and time-consuming.
Navigating Independence with Vision Loss
Loss of independence due to vision loss can manifest in two primary forms: an inability to perform daily tasks without assistance and a decline in mobility.
In our daily lives, the human eye effortlessly guides us through routine tasks with minimal forethought. Tasks such as personal care, medication management, reading, and household chores fall under the umbrella of activities of daily living. However, for those experiencing vision loss, these tasks must be approached differently, potentially leading to dependence on others for completion.
Fortunately, independence can often be preserved through training and a willingness to adapt by utilizing visual aids or adjusting living environments to suit individual needs.
Initially, acknowledging the need for assistance can be challenging, especially for individuals accustomed to a life with sight. While adjustments can be made to the living environment, there will inevitably be moments when external help is necessary. In these instances, it’s important to accept assistance to make challenging tasks more manageable.
Sometimes, well-intentioned family and friends may feel compelled to offer excessive help, inadvertently taking over tasks that the visually impaired person is capable of handling themselves. This can lead to a sense of helplessness and loss of control, ultimately increasing dependency.
It’s crucial to resist the temptation to allow others to take over tasks that can still be managed independently. Maintaining even a semblance of independence is pivotal in retaining control over various aspects of life.
For those facing more severe visual impairments, one of the most significant losses is the ability to drive. Suddenly, individuals find themselves reliant on others for transportation to run errands and attend appointments, which can be a difficult adjustment for those used to the freedom of coming and going as they please. This reliance, particularly in areas without accessible public transportation, often results in social isolation, bringing with it a host of negative emotions.
In cases of the most severe vision impairments, individuals may struggle with orientation and mobility. Orientation refers to knowing one’s location within an environment, while mobility entails the ability to move independently within that space. Fear of safety concerns such as getting lost or stranded may arise among the visually impaired.
To navigate these challenges, those with severe vision impairments or blindness often rely on tools such as canes or guide dogs to maintain their independence to the fullest extent possible
How Vision Impairment Affects Self-perception
When someone who was once sighted loses their vision, they often grapple with a range of negative emotions. Whether they were a skilled worker, a parent, or socially active, the sudden loss of vision can leave them feeling overwhelmed and concerned about their quality of life and financial stability.
How they perceive themselves is deeply influenced by how they are perceived and treated by others. Being treated differently by co-workers, family, and friends can lead to feelings of being stigmatized as disabled.
It’s common for individuals to experience a decline in self-esteem and self-confidence. Independence may give way to dependence, and the loss of control over one’s life can create a sense of feeling ‘lesser’ than others, less valuable and capable.
The perception of this physical disability can significantly impact an individual’s sense of self-worth. They may begin to doubt their competence as a worker, parent, or spouse.
However, as those with vision loss begin to adapt and adjust, there is often a shift. Success in learning new skills and adapting to their circumstances can lessen the weight of the disability. Acquiring new abilities helps visually impaired individuals function better in their community and fosters the growth of self-confidence.
How Vision Loss Affects Relationships
Relationships with family and friends are crucial for individuals who are visually impaired. Their understanding, acceptance, and willingness to assist play a pivotal role in the adjustment process for those with visual disabilities.
Navigating life without support can be significantly more challenging for visually impaired individuals compared to those with a supportive family environment. Friends and responsive healthcare providers can also offer the encouragement and support necessary for the individual to regain independence.
However, this support is not always guaranteed. In some cases, when a family member loses their vision, other family members may struggle to accept the resulting changes in family dynamics.
The roles within the family inevitably shift. Tasks that were once shared equally, such as household chores, errands, and driving, may now fall primarily on one or more family members to care for the visually impaired individual. These changes in responsibilities can also lead to shifts in financial burdens, potentially straining family members and household expenses.
Despite appearing “normal” and being able to manage many tasks competently, the visually impaired individual may face challenges if their family does not fully understand their impairment or denies that there is a problem.
This can create a situation where the individual hesitates to ask for help, as their family’s expectations have not adapted to their new circumstances. This added stress can be especially difficult for someone already grappling with anxiety and depression.
On the other hand, some family members may go to the other extreme, feeling the need to take over and handle tasks of any level of complexity for the visually impaired individual. They may hover, assisting with every step, which can inadvertently discourage independence and lead to a sense of incompetence in the visually impaired person. This dynamic can further erode their self-esteem.
Social situations present their own challenges. Friends and family members may not fully understand low vision, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations. The visually impaired individual may struggle to see details or recognize faces, potentially leading others to perceive them as unintelligent or clumsy. Additionally, in public settings like stores, clerks may become impatient with slower responses and movements.
Repeated incidents and accidents can further diminish social self-confidence and self-esteem for the visually impaired individual. This can create a cycle where they begin to avoid social interactions, ultimately leading to social isolation, increased depression, and anxiety
How Low Vision Affects Communication
Those with low vision, particularly individuals experiencing central vision loss, are often categorized as ‘print disabled.’ It’s easy to underestimate just how much of our daily lives revolve around printed information. From work-related materials to personal reading like mail, printed information is pervasive.
Consider the myriad of places where printed information is found: on TV screens, product labels, signs, and even the numbers on appliance dials. Each of these can pose a challenge for individuals with print disabilities. (By the way, that includes those with dyslexia.)
The solution often involves enlarging (magnifying) the printed material, but it’s important to note that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all magnifier for every situation. The challenge for the visually impaired, caregivers, and therapists is to identify and utilize the most effective low vision aids, audio assistance tools, and environmental modifications. These aids are essential for enabling them to gather information and navigate their surroundings independently.
Fortunately, this generation of visually impaired individuals benefits from advancements in electronic and assistive technology. Developers of computer programs and smartphones have integrated assistive technology specifically designed to aid those with visual, hearing, and mobility impairments. However, it’s crucial that the visually impaired receive assistance with setting up and training to effectively use these technologies.
Despite these technological advances, one of the most challenging communication issues for the visually impaired remains the difficulty in distinguishing faces. The inability to recognize faces can lead to awkward social situations.
Human-to-human communication involves not just words and voice inflections, but also facial expressions that convey emotions and attitudes. These subtle non-verbal cues can be missed by the visually impaired, adding another layer of complexity to their interactions. Unfortunately, there is currently no technological aid that effectively addresses this aspect of communication.
How Vision Loss Changes Expectations and Goals
The saying goes something like, “We make plans, and God just laughs.” It’s part of human nature to look forward, as it’s what motivates us each morning. We create plans for personal aspirations such as family and home life, professional ambitions like career growth and business endeavors, and even leisure activities such as vacations and sports.
Parents of children with low vision hold hopes for their youngsters’ future education and physical development, much like any other parent would.
However, when low vision enters the picture, some of these plans may need to be set aside or adjusted. This adjustment often brings feelings of grief and sadness, particularly for those who experience sudden vision loss. On the other hand, individuals with slow, progressive vision loss typically have more time to come to terms with and adapt their expectations.
Seeking assistance from therapists and counselors can be invaluable in developing strategies for adjusting personal, work-related, and recreational goals.
Throughout this adjustment process, individuals often come to understand their limitations and develop new expectations. It’s crucial during this time to concentrate on abilities rather than disabilities. Channeling energy into learning skills that are both valued and enjoyable can be transformative.
Parents of visually disabled children are understandably concerned about the future their child will have. In the United States, government legislation such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, guarantees educational options for children facing challenges in the classroom. Additionally, state and federal programs provide support until the age of 21. (Reference: Parents Information and Resources for a state-by-state listing.)
How Vision Loss Affects Economic Status
The costs associated with vision impairment can be significant. Losing employment due to vision loss can have devastating effects on individuals and their families. On top of this, the added expenses of medical care and caregivers further burden those with disabilities.
Fortunately, there are resources available to provide financial assistance to the visually impaired through government and state programs, particularly for educational and rehabilitation services. Medical care is typically covered by insurance, whether it’s private or through medical insurance exchanges.
However, it’s important to note that eyeglasses and low vision aids are often not covered by insurance. These costs are usually borne by the individual and their family. In the resources section of this site, I’ve listed a few groups that can help with locating and financing services and visual aids.
Click for Resources page.
In some cases, vision impairment doesn’t mean giving up one’s job. With the help of modern technology, disabled individuals can often continue working, depending on the nature of their job and the extent of their vision loss. Many individuals with low vision or blindness are able to remain gainfully employed.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has established guidelines for employers with more than 15 employees. According to these guidelines, employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees with vision disabilities. In return, the employee must still be able to effectively and safely perform their job. For more information on these guidelines, you can Click VisionAware.
Learn more from my article: How Do Visually Impaired People Work?
How to Maintain Quality of Life
Vision loss is undeniably one of the most dreaded disabilities, as it fundamentally alters every aspect of life.
Factors such as independence, self-perception, relationships, communication, and financial stability are all profoundly affected by vision impairment. If left unaddressed, these challenges can trigger a cascade of negative emotions.
Feelings of fear, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and helplessness often accompany the loss of vision, shaping the trajectory of life with low vision. These emotions are not uncommon among those who have experienced vision loss and can significantly impede the process of acceptance, adjustment, and adaptation.
The individuals who tend to fare best are those with a strong sense of self-esteem, coupled with a high degree of flexibility and a willingness to learn new skills and adaptations. These qualities are instrumental in navigating the complexities of life with low vision and achieving a successful and fulfilling existence despite the challenges.
In the End…
While experiencing loss of vision can be emotionally devastating and daily life may initially feel overwhelming, it’s important to recognize that one can still lead a successful, productive, and fulfilling life.
This journey typically involves a step-wise process of acceptance, adjustment, and adaptation. Successful individuals with low vision often learn compensatory and technical skills to aid in this adjustment.
The support of family, friends, and caring professionals can make a significant difference in helping the visually impaired regain self-assurance, self-esteem, confidence, and maintain independence. With time, patience, and the right support system, it is possible to navigate the challenges of low vision and continue to live a rewarding life.
