Visual Impairment and Rehabilitation Sourcebook, Second Edition

Omnigraphics' Disability Series is tailored for genera! readers seeking guidance on understanding, navigating, and managing disabilities while exploring related issues. Each volume offers a valuable, time-saving source of authoritative health information, relied upon by librarians, to equip consumers with the knowledge needed to take control of their well-being. Whether addressing their own health challenges or those of a family member or loved one, readers will find this series to be a valuable resource. Visual impairment encompasses a spectrum of conditions affecting the eyes, optic nerve, or brain, leading to varying degrees of vision loss, ranging from blurred vision or loss of central vision to complete blindness. Age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are common causes among adults, while congenital factors can cause vision loss from birth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 12 million people aged 40 years and older in the United States have vision impairment, including 1 million who are blind. Approximately 6.8 percent of children under 18 in the United States have a diagnosed eye and vision condition, and nearly 3 percent have blindness or vision impairment, defined as having trouble seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Viusal Impairment and Rehabilitation Sourcebook, Second Edition, Visual Impairment and Rehabilitation Sourcebook, Second Edition provides a comprehensive understanding of disability and its effect on daily life in the context of vision loss. It explores specific conditions leading to visual impairment, such as refractive disorders, cataracts, retinal diseases, and congenital disorders. The book addresses public health implications, mental health concerns, and fall prevention among older adults. It offers practical strategies for independent living, including orientation and mobility training, assistive devices, and support systems. Additionally, it discusses managing diabetes to prevent vision loss, surgical interventions, multidisciplinary vision rehabilitation, and technological innovations for low vision and blindness. Key aspects such as mental health, employment rights, and access to education for individuals with visual impairments are addressed. The book concludes with a directory of resources for further assistance and information.