Marcus French
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What is Stargardt's disease?
Stargardt's diseaseis a rare, inherited form of macular degeneration that is a recessive disorder inherited from each parent or a dominate gene from one parent. Macular degeneration is a chronic eye disease that occurs when tissue in the macula, the part of your retina that's responsible for central vision, deteriorates. This often begins in the first or second decade of life.
What are the visual systems affected by Stargardt's disease?
The macular and surrounding retina is the visual system affected. It is diagnosed when the macula has the appearance of “beaten metal” and retina is observed as having a granular discoloration with pale yellow-white flecks with irregular shapes.
What effects does Stargardt's diseasehave on the visual system?
Macular degeneration only affects the central vision. Because peripheral vision is left unaffected, total blindness doesn’t occur.
What is the treatment for Stargardt's disease?
There is no treatment for Stargardt's disease.
What is the prognosis of Stargardt’s disease?
Stargardt's diseaseminimally affectsMobility. These children usually respond well to magnification by using simplebifocals, aCCTV or enlarged print. Continued low vision therapy and access to a VI are needed to guarantee quality of life.
References
Anshel, J. (1991). Smart medicine for your eyes. New York: Avery Publishing
Company.
Buettner, Helmut. (2002). Mayo Clinic on vision and eye health.
New York: Kensington Publishing.
Etkin, S., Lenker, D., Mills, E. (2005). Professional guide to diseases. (8th ed.).
Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Mayo Clinic. (2006). Stargardt’s disease: Can it be treated? Retrieved
from
Windsor, R. & Windsor, L. (O.D.s). (2001, Fall). Low vision rehabilitation:
an introduction. Journal of Vision Enhancement, 6(2), 11-15. Retrieved
from The Vision Worldwide database.
What is retinitis pigmentosa?
Retinitis Pigmentosa is an inherited disease that causes deterioration of the light –sensitive cells of the retina with progressive loss of sight starting at about 10 years old.
What are the visual systems affected by retinitis pigmentosa?
The retina deteriorates. “The retinal defect may be found in the retina's rod cells, the retina's cone cells, and/or in the connection between the cells that compose the retina” (Retinitis Pigmentosa, 2008)
What effects does retinitis pigmentosahave on the visual system?
It begins with night blindness and difficulty seeing in dim light. Then, the peripheral vision gradually decreases until the person develops “tunnel vision” (Anshel, 194).
What is the treatment for retinitis pigmentosa?
There is no treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. There is research that shows that Vitamin A and E may slow degeneration.
What is the prognosis of retinitis pigmentosa?
The loss of peripheral vision will eventually make it difficult to drive or do many mobile tasks. It has been shown that low vision aids are useful for maintaining independence.
References
Anshel, J. (1991). Smart medicine for your eyes. New York: Avery Publishing
Company.
Etkin, S., Lenker, D., Mills, E. (2005). Professional guide to diseases. (8th ed.).
Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Leikin, J. & Lipskey, M. (MDs). (2003). In the American Medical Association
Complete medical Encyclopedia. New York: Random House.
Royal National Institute of Blind People. (2007). Understanding retinitis
pigmentosa. Retrieved from
public/documents /Public Website/public_rnib003662.hcsp.
University of Virginia Health System. (2008). Eye care: Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Retrieved from eye/retina.cfm.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatismis curvature of the cornea that results in blurred vision. It occurs when light rays are not refracted by the eye equally.Astigmatismis often present at birth and may occur in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness.
What are the visual systems affected by astigmatism?
With astigmatism, the cornea is shaped more like a barrel than a ball. This causes the image projected to the retina to be distorted.
What effects does astigmatism have on the visual system?
The result is a distortion of the odject being viewed. The result a blurred or distorted image because of an uneven focusing of light images. It dimishes acuity at all distances.
What is the treatment for astigmatism?
The most common and conventional method of treatment is eyeglasses or contact lenses. Another method is the use of lasers called laser-assisted intrastomal keratomileusis (LASIK).
What is the prognosis of astigmatism?
Stargardt's diseaseminimally affects Mobility. These children usually respond well to magnification by using simple bifocals, a CCTV or enlarged print. Continued low vision therapy and access to a VI are needed to guarantee quality of life.
References
Anshel, J. (1991). Smart medicine for your eyes. New York: Avery Publishing
Company.
Beresford, S. Muris, D., Allen, M. & Young, F. (1996). Improve your vision
without glasses or contact lenses. New York: Fireside.
Buettner, Helmut. (2002). Mayo Clinic on vision and eye health.
New York: Kensington Publishing.
Kaufman, Herbert. (1998). The cornea. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Mayo Clinic. (2007). Astigmatism. Retrieved from
astigmatism/ DS00230.
What are cataracts?
A cataract is an accumulation of dead cells that form a clouding of the lens within the eye.Cataracts causing problems with distance vision, blurred vision, frequent eyeglass prescriptions, poor night vision, and light appears to have a halo around it.
What are the visual systems affected by cataracts?
It can form on the capsule nucleus or the cortex layer of the lens.
What effects does cataractshave on the visual system?
A cataract occurs when the normally clear lens in the eye becomes cloudy. The clouding blurs vision by scattering light, which prevents the lens from properly focusing an image on the retina at the back of the eye (Buettner, 2002, p103).
What is the treatment for cataracts?
The only treatment is surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace with a clear lens.
What is the prognosis of cataracts?
After surgery, most patients heal fast and need glasses. Complications after surgery are rare and most can be treated.
References
Anshel, J. (1991). Smart medicine for your eyes. New York: Avery Publishing
Company.
Beresford, S. Muris, D., Allen, M. & Young, F. (1996). Improve your vision
without glasses or contact lenses. New York: Fireside.
Buettner, Helmut. (2002). Mayo Clinic on vision and eye health.
New York: Kensington Publishing.
Cassell, G., Billig, M. & Randall, H. (1998). The eye book: A complete guide to
eye disorders and health. Maryland: The JohnsHopkinsUniversity
Press.
Leikin, J. & Lipskey, M. (MDs). (2003). In the American Medical Association
Complete medical Encyclopedia. New York: Random House.
What is retinal detachment?
Retinal detachment is a condition where the retina detaches itself caused by a hole or tear. Fluid seeps in and weakens the attachment. Nearsightedness and protruding eyes are most prone to developing RD.
What are the visual systems affected by retinal detachment?
During a retinal detachment, bleeding from small retinal blood vessels may cloud the interior of the eye, which is normally filled with vitreous fluid. Central vision becomes severely affected if the macula, the part of the retina responsible for fine vision, becomes detached.(Retinal Detachment, 2006)
What effects doesretinal detachment have on the visual system?
The retina cannot compose a clear picture from incoming light therefore vision becomes blurred.
What is the treatment for retinal detachment?
If found early RD can be treated by an ophthalmologist using local anesthesia. Most of the cases of RD require an operation needing general anesthesia.
What is the prognosis of retinal detachment?
If treatment occurs before the macula detaches, then most of the vision can be saved. If no treatment occurs, there will be substantial vision loss.
References
Adam Illustrated Health Encyclopedia. (2006, October). Retinal Detachment.
Retrieved from
%20 Encyclopedia/1/001027.htm
Anshel, J. (1991). Smart medicine for your eyes. New York: Avery Publishing
Company.
Buettner, Helmut. (2002). Mayo Clinic on vision and eye health.
New York: Kensington Publishing.
Leikin, J. & Lipskey, M. (MDs). (2003). In the American Medical Association
Complete medical Encyclopedia. New York: Random House.
Royal National Institute of Blind People. (2007). Understanding retinitis
pigmentosa. Retrieved from
documents/ PublicWebsite/public_rnib003661.hcsp.