Vision Loss Physiological and Behavior changes Vision Loss

Vision Loss, Physiological and Behavior changes

Vision Loss Causes & Consequences • Vision loss due to stroke (Carlson, 2010, p. 4) – Blindsight • Glaucoma (Cook, et. al. , 2006, p. 963) • Macular Degeneration

The Case of Blindsight • Carlson (2010) explicates the case study of a man “blinded” by his stroke. • Despite “pinhole” vision, the man senses where objects in the room are beyond the scope of vision. • Carlson (2010) deems this blindsight and the result of evolution.

Macular Degeneration • 8 million in the U. S. over 55 years of age with early or mid-stage disease (Milton, 2005). • Leading cause of blindness in the elderly (Georgia Tech, 2008) • Neurovascular • Almost all persons who show early signs eventually develop late-stage disease

Glaucoma Leading cause of blindness in the world (Cook, et. al. , 2010, p. 1093) • Ambivalence • Lack of adherence to behavioral/ self-efficacy training and recommendations Advanced age

Brain Changes Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection and adaptation Shifts in the usage of the frontal cortex and deciphering/processing May change behavior but less noticably.

Brain changes in processing • MRIs show compensating changes with vision loss • Reorganizes the neural connections. • Yet, this is also dependent on a person’s behavior Georgia Tech, 2008

References Carlson, N. R. (2010). Physiology of Behavior, Tenth Edition. Allyn & Bacon: Pearson Education, Inc. Cook, J. et. al. (2006). Chapter 50. Loss of Vision and Hearing. Retrieved from http: //files. dcp 2. org/pdf/DCP 50. pdf Cook, P. F. et. al. (2010). Feasibility of motivational interviewing delivered by a glaucoma educator to improve medical adherence. Clinical Ophthalmology, 4: 1091 1101. Retrieved from http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC 2952610/ Georgia Institute of Technology (2008, November 20). Brain Reorganizes To Adjust For Loss Of Vision. Science. Daily. Retrieved January 10, 2012, from http: //www. sciencedaily. com /releases/2008/11/081120130541. htm Jones, G. C. , et. al. (2009 May). Effects of depressive symptoms on health behavior practices among older adults with vision loss. Rehabilitative Psychology, 54(2): 164 172. Retrieved from http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/19469606 Milton, R. C. (2005). Risk Factors for the Incidence of Advanced Age Related Macular Degeneration in the Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) AREDS Report No. 19. Retrieved from http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC 1513667/