Low Vision Rehabilitation/Lesley

Lesley is your patient at See Well Australia. Through Lesley and other patients you will see, you will come to understand what it feels like to live with low vision, how you perceive yourself, how others perceive you and what impact this has on your daily life.

There is an overarching question you will need to answer, and scenarios with supporting information to help guide your understanding and formulate your answer.

Question

What is the impact of eye disease on how you see and how you feel? Who can help you with the challenges you will face as a vision impaired person?

Activities

Task 1

Before we learn about Lesley and the elderly ladies, we will analyse the likely impact of a particular ocular disease on a person’s visual function. You will also consider the impact vision impairment might have on a person's social interactions and general well-being. You will therefore be able to discuss the psychosocial and physical impacts related to different forms of vision impairment.

Begin by watching this introductory video

Task 2

Watch the three short lectorials on the three areas of functional vision loss and answer the related questions.

1. Blurred vision
   
2. Central field loss
   
3. Peripheral field loss
   

Questions - Task 2

1. Blurred vision no field loss:

• What are the ocular structures involved?
  
• What is the function of these structures?
  
• Explain in terms of these functions the impact these types of eye diseases or systemic conditions will have on sight.
  

2. Central field loss:

• What is the ocular structure involved?
  
• What is the function of this structure?
  
• Explain in terms of these functions the impact on sight of disease impacting this part of the eye.
  

3. Peripheral field loss:
This is the most complex area in relation to function and can be considered as disseminated or scattered field loss, hemianopia or half field loss and severely constricted field loss.

• What structures of the vision pathway might be impacted?
  
• What is the function of these structures?
  
• Explain in terms of these functions the impact on sight.
  

Task 3

As an introduction to this task, have a look at the RNIB's website on Coming to Terms with Sight Loss.
Next, listen to the two audio recordings of patients from See Well Australia who have vision impairment. They are describing the impact of the impairment on their lives. Make notes to help you answer the questions related to each recording.

• Audio 1 - Lesley, a young woman with Stargardt disease
  
• Audio 2 - Three elderly ladies
  

Click the links for these audio files and then you will need to download them in order to listen to them.

After you have listened to the recordings, work through these questions.
Questions - Task 3

Lesley is a young woman in her 30’s. She is legally blind due to Stargardt Disease. Lesley lives alone in an inner Melbourne suburb.

As you listen to Lesley’s story make notes about the following questions:

1. How did Lesley first realize she was losing her sight?
2. What was her initial response to sight loss?
3. How did sight loss impact on Lesley’s working life?
4. How did sight loss impact on Lesley’s personal life?
5. What has been Lesley’s emotional response to sight loss and her perception of the thoughts of others?
6. What are Lesley’s strategies for coping?
7. What comments does Lesley make about the way people treat her?

Next, Meet Mrs Kirkman, Mrs Muirhead and Mrs Sevoir.

All are older women who have bilateral AMD that has progressed to the wet phase - all are legally blind. Mrs Kirkman is a widow who also has significant hearing loss, she wears hearing aids. Mrs Muirhead is also a widow she lives in a large rural city. Mrs Sevoir is married and living with her husband in metropolitan Melbourne.

As you listen to their stories make notes on the following:

1. How has sight loss impacted on the lives of the three women?
2. Do any of them refer to their living situation?
3. What are the emotions they express in relation to losing their sight?
4. How has sight loss impacted on their social relationships?
5. What are some of the strategies they are using to overcome the handicaps of sight loss?
6. One has a very philosophical out look, describe this lady’s response.
7. Is there a difference in response between the ladies and what seems to be making this difference?

Consider the differences in response and impact between Lesley and the older ladies. Discuss your answers with your group and try to provide answers to all of the above questions.

Task 4

This task utilises case studies and additional materials that will allow you to consider the impact of sight loss on social and emotional well-being.

First, watch the interview with Krister Inde Support needed when one loses his or her vision

Once you have watched Krister's movie, work through the questions below. Refer to Krister Inde's book See bad feel good.

Questions - Task 4

1. The following passage has been taken from Krister Inde’s book See Bad Feel Good, an autobiographical account of sight loss. Discuss the following statements and think about what they are telling you of Krister’s response to his diagnosis.
"There are a lot of aids and devices that I’m sure you can make great use of. But as I said, there is, unfortunately, no medical treatment that we can offer you at this time.” Period. Nowhere to run. It’s a fact. You are locked in a room and there is no key to the nonexistent door. It comes as a shock: You are losing your sight and it is hell. A hell you have not chosen, for which you are not responsible, and that you hate so much that you avoid believing it’s true, avoid thinking about it and you suppress it entirely. It simply hasn’t happened!"
2. What are the phases a person goes through after losing sight as described by Krister Inde in his book See Good Feel Bad?
3. Discuss in your groups how you would feel if you lost your sight – prepare a brief group statement to share with the class summarising your thoughts. The RNIB has a good resource Coming to terms with sight loss that you can refer to.