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Losing your vision doesnt just affect your ability to see.
Loss of eyesight can be especially difficult for your mental well-being.
Is Vision Impairment Widespread?
Roman Milert / EyeEm / Getty Images
The current statistics on those who have serious problems with their eyesight are staggering.
This could be due to a lack of “effective coping or self-management skills” in the young adults.
For example, it can affect how you walk because you might becomefearfulabout falling or running into a pole.
It affects your ability to read, watch TV, create meals, work and drive.
Based on recent research,impaired eyesight has a substantial effect on peoples activities of daily living, too.
That includes everyday functions and routine activities like using the toilet, showering, dressing, and eating.
As a result, people are having to deal with the byproducts of vision loss.
This comes in the form of psychological challenges.
In fact, 1 in 4 adults with vision impairment will experience anxiety and depression.
Younger people are five times more likely to deal with mental health issues.
This is because they’re less likely to have developed healthy coping mechanisms.
Loss of sight is associated with the following psychological and psychosocial problems.
This can often be traumatic.
And, adjusting to a world that isn’t designed for visually impaired people impacts a person’s confidence.
They might also feel embarrassment and shame about not being able to do things others can do.
Rather than dealing with theshame, they avoid thinking about the problem or start to isolate themselves from others.
Loneliness
Vision impairment is often irreversible so its important to address how it can result inloneliness.
Losing your vision can adversely affect interpersonal interactions and social engagement.
In a recent study,scientists examined how loneliness impacts people with vision impairment.
When looking at those with sight impairment, loneliness was common.
Depression
Its understandable that people experiencing vision loss will get mildly or clinically depressed.
Depression is a far-from-uncommon risk for people who have lost their vision from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
One aspect of the integrated intervention was having people with vision loss focus and re-engage in activities they liked.
Frustration
Those with vision loss may feel frustrated by accessibility issues.
This can lead to them feeling like they’re missing out on content they’d like to enjoy.
Being aware of how you feel and the reality of the situation you are in is important.
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GoldenCarers.20 Activities for the Visually-Impaired.
