Visually Impaired People---RESEARCH
Short description:
1-3 percent of the population is estimated to be visually impaired. As elderly people increase in number, this estimated percentage is likely to increase. The prognosis is that up to 30 percent of EU-residents will suffer from some kind of functional disorder in the future related to the eye. The burden of visual impairment is not distributed uniformly throughout the world: the least developed regions have the largest share in visual impairments. Visual impairment is not equally distributed across age groups either, being largely confined to adults 50 years of age and older. An imbalance in distribution is also found with regard to gender allacross the world: females are more at risk than males in acquiring visual impairments. Although there is intense progress in surgical interventions that have been used in many countries in the past few decades, cataract remains the most important cause of visual impairment in all regions of the world, except in the most developed countries. This alone shows us that visual impairments will be with us for a long time to come. Other major causes of visual impairment are, in order of importance, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma (Bull World Health Organ. 2004 Nov ;82:844-51 15640920 (P,S,E,B) )
Type of publication:
ToolsDate of publication:
10/30/2013Author(s):
ERUÇAR, İLKSEN OBENPublishing organization:
Bolu MEMPublication file(s):
Long description:
1-3 percent of the population is estimated to be visually impaired. As elderly people increase in number, this estimated percentage is likely to increase. The prognosis is that up to 30 percent of EU-residents will suffer from some kind of functional disorder in the future related to the eye. The burden of visual impairment is not distributed uniformly throughout the
world: the least developed regions have the largest share in visual impairments. Visual
impairment is not equally distributed across age groups either, being largely confined to adults
50 years of age and older. An imbalance in distribution is also found with regard to gender all
across the world: females are more at risk than males in acquiring visual impairments. Although
there is intense progress in surgical interventions that have been used in many countries in the
past few decades, cataract remains the most important cause of visual impairment in all regions
of the world, except in the most developed countries. This alone shows us that visual
impairments will be with us for a long time to come. Other major causes of visual impairment
are, in order of importance, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy
and trachoma (Bull World Health Organ. 2004 Nov ;82:844-51 15640920 (P,S,E,B) )
A visually impaired person usually experiences one or several of the following
symptoms: impaired accuracy of sight, inability to tell contrasts and colours, incomplete visual
field, impaired and insufficient eye adaptation to changes in light levels and dazzle. These
symptoms and the problems they create vary from person to person according to the nature of
the visual impairment. These problems debilitate the person with visual impairment and prevent
him/her from fully doing his/her share in society, oftentimes pushing the individual to isolation
or more secluded and dependent lives.
To prevent vision loss and support rehabilitative services for people with low vision, it
is imperative for the public health community and interested parties to address the issue through
surveillance, public education, and coordination of screening, examination, and treatment.
In addition to the role of health care professionals and social services to ease the
discomfort and barriers that the visual impairment creates, the families and relatives of these
individuals also have a determining role in their future. The role of families and relatives is
crucial in the life of the visually impaired person since his/her functional disorder will deem it
necessary for him/her to get some help at least in the beginning. This help and support need to
be in many fields, covering his/her psychological well-being, safety, education, access to
technology, employment etc. Since the role of the parents, relatives and loved ones is essential
and imperative, they also need some support at the first stages of the individual's diagnosis in
order to be able to give their full support and help. Since the new situation is alarming and
frightening also for them, they will need information, knowledge, support systems and services
and an ear to tell their worries and a shoulder to share their burdens.
With these in mind, the Project aims to help the parents and relatives of the visually
disabled persons by providing information on eye diseases, eye problems, assistive technologies
that are helpful for different conditions and needs and support organizations ranging from
health care professionals to libraries where visually impaired persons and their loved ones will
find help and support.
In order to realize this aim, the project undertakes a training course for the parents and
loved ones of the visually impaired persons which will guide them in this difficult time of
transition in their lives. The courses that will open in the partner countries will not only give
guidance and information about the important questions and fields in the lives of the parents
and relatives of visually impaired people who have found themselves face to face with a
dilemma in their lives which has been brought about by the condition of the visually impaired
individual but also provide help in terms of psychological support and opportunities to be
together with people who have been going through the same just as themselves. In addition to
the courses the project will present a web site which will be instrumental in helping the parents
and the loved ones of the visually impaired individual by posting crucial basic information
about eye diseases and problems, the health care solutions, assistive technologies and what to
do in terms of creating a new life for the visually impaired individual, support organizations and
institutions that the parents and relatives of the visually impaired persons can benefit from. The
web site will also have information on general aspects and statistics of the visual impairments.
The research to provide materials for the training course and the web site covers 5 areas:
The Eye:
Eye in detail
Eye diseases and problems, Visual Impairment
Correctable eye diseases
Sources of Information
Assistive technologies:
Hardware assistive technologies for persons with Visual Impairment
Software assistive technologies for persons with Visual Impairment
Categories of Assistive Technology for Persons with Hearing Impairment
Categories of Assistive Technology for Persons with Cognitive Impairment
Navigation systems for the blind
Low vision tools manufacturers in Europe
Braille producers in Europe
Classroom tools and ids for the visually impaired
Sources of Information
Statistics:
The demography of blindness and partial sight
Facts and figures about disability
Facts and figures about visual impairment
Data related to Visually impaired individuals in EU countries
Sources of Information
Support Services:
Support Services for the families and relatives of the visually impaired persons
A list of useful web sites
Sources of Information
Organizations for the Visually Impaired Persons:
Libraries fort he Blind and Visually Impaired
Selected International Websites with Links to Other Organizations
Organizations and Sources Of Information For Diseases With Impairment Of Sensory
Functions
The research has shown that there have been monumental advances in improving opportunities
and conditions for people with visual impairment over the past decades in access, technology
and awareness of the public. Albeit these improvements, the situation is not nearly satisfactory
since there are challenges in providing equal access to information and employment. These
facts are apparent in the scantiness of the necessary statistics that is needed to make long term
plans for that group. Although some countries seem to have gone a long way in terms of support
services and identification of problems of the visually impaired, some countries are still behind.
In order to even and balance the platform for the visually impaired across all EU countries,
more research is needed and families and relatives of the visually impaired need to be informed
of existing services and systems that are beneficial. These type of support will help the visually
impaired to be more active, independent and less isolated and their social inclusion to society
will make it possible for the EU to reach its goal of providing an equal opportunity environment
for all people regardless of race, color, religion or ability.
Project Coordinator:
Royal National College for the Blind
Project partners:
RNCB = Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford, Uinted Kingdom (UK) - Anne Rolfe
SREP = Societatea Romana Pentru Educatie Permanenta, Bucharest, Romania (RO)
IBOS = Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede, Hellerup, Denmark (DK)
BSW = Bildungswerk der Saechsischen Wirtschaft GmbH, Dresden, Germany (DE)
RvAM = Rehberlik ve Araştırma Merkezi, Bolu, Turkey (TR)