Vision Problems and Alzheimer’s Disease

A very important blog post today for caregivers focusing on vision problems among those who have Alzheimer's. There are some supportive ways to help with your loved one who is dealing with these vision issues. For the full blog post visit. http://whiteoakcottages.com/vision-problems-and-alzheimers-disease/

ABSTRACT:

People with Alzheimer’s disease can suffer from impaired vision that goes way beyond the age associated challenges of cataracts and yellowed eye lenses.  Caregivers should be alert to these issues so that they can recognize vision-related behaviors and make modifications to give better support.

What kinds of vision problems does Alzheimer’s cause?

Depth perception.  Those with Alzheimer’s can lose their depth perception.  They have a hard time judging distances, or in determining if something is a 3 dimensional object or a picture.  You may see an Alzheimer’s patient trying to pick the flowers up off of a fabric with a floral design, or treating a border on a carpet as a step, either up or down.

Reduced field of vision.  People’s field of vision narrows as they age.  However, for some with Alzheimer’s disease, the field of vision narrows dramatically.  They are unable to see to either side, resulting in disorientation and a tendency to bump into things.  The reduced field of vision is related to the inability to perceive depth and distance.

Color and contrast.  Some with Alzheimer’s cannot pick out an object if it is surrounded by other objects of similar color.  Colors in the blue end of the color spectrum seem harder to recognize than those at the red end.

Following motion.  Following a moving object can be difficult.  It has been described as watching something move as a series of still images.  These problems have serious implications for anyone who is still driving a car, but it also impacts people’s ability to comfortably watch television or any activity involving fast motion.