Living with Ultra-Low Vision: An Inventory of Self-Reported Visually Guided Activities by Individuals with Profound Visual Impairment.
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ABSTRACT: Purpose
To understand how individuals with profound visual impairment (ultra-low vision, ULV) use their remaining vision.Methods
Forty-six participants with ULV (visual acuity ≤ 200/500 in the better seeing eye) were divided into nine focus groups (4-6 individuals per group) and met either in person (n = 2) or over the phone (n = 7). Discussions were guided by the Massof Activity Inventory. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed for visual activities that were then classified along two visual categorizations - functional domains and visual aspects. The latter was based on a Grounded Theory classification of participants' descriptions.Results
Seven hundred sixty activities were reported. By functional domain they were classified as reading/shape recognition (10%), mobility (17%), visual motor (24%), and visual information gathering (49%). By visual aspects, they were classified as contrast (43%), luminance (17%), environmental lighting (9%), familiarity (3%), motion perception (5%), distance (7%), size (9%), eccentricity (5%), depth perception (1%), and other/miscellaneous (1%). More than one visual aspect may be critical for an activity: participants reported that contrast plays a role in 68% of visual activities, followed by luminance (27%), environmental lighting (14%), and size (14%).Conclusions
Visual aspects, primarily contrast, were found to be critical factors enabling ULV individuals to perform visual activities.Translational relevance
This inventory, part of the Prosthetic Low Vision Rehabilitation (PLoVR) curriculum development study, provides a unique perspective into the visual world of the nearly blind, and can be used in the development of a Visual Functioning Questionnaire (VFQ) and visual performance measures suited for ULV populations.
SUBMITTER: Adeyemo O
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5450922 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:ObjectiveFunctional Vision (FV) is vital for the successful growth of children with visual impairment. However, tasks related to measuring FV have not been thoroughly studied for this population. To address this gap, this study seeks to establish a comprehensive set of vision-related tasks that consider both the difficulty levels of activities and the ages of children with visual impairment.MethodsThis study utilized a sequential multi-method design, including a scoping review, a qualitative content analysis, and a focus group. Firstly, a scoping review was conducted to identify vision-related tasks based on the literature. Then, to contextualize the vision-related tasks, a qualitative content analysis was carried out. Subsequently, a focus group was conducted to categorize the identified tasks based on their difficulty levels and the children's level of dependency. We utilized the directed content analysis method to analyze the data, using the occupational domain of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework 4th edition (OTPF-4) as the primary framework.ResultsDuring the review phase, which included 22 studies, and the interview phase, which involved 16 participants, a total of 95 and 85 vision-related tasks were identified, respectively. These tasks were then categorized into 17 activities and five occupations, which included activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, play, and participation in social activities. Among these occupations, ADL was the easiest, while participation in social activities was the most challenging. Finally, the tasks were arranged based on their difficulty level for children with visual impairment.ConclusionA comprehensive list of vision-related tasks has been developed based on the difficulty level of the tasks and the degree of dependency of children with visual impairment. This list can be used to develop standardized instruments for assessing FV in children with visual impairment.
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Project description:BackgroundEngagement in cognitively stimulating activities is associated with decreased rates of cognitive decline in older adults. However, most cognitively stimulating tasks require good vision, potentially affecting the ability of visually impaired adults to engage in these activities. We examined the relationship between vision and participation in cognitively stimulating activities.MethodData from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study (1999-2005) were analyzed. Associations between visual function (visual acuity [VA], contrast sensitivity [CS], and stereo acuity [SA] impairments) and annual rates of change in number of cognitively stimulating activities (by self-report) performed at least once a month were examined.ResultsAnalyses included 924 participants aged 75.2 ± 2.8 years. At baseline, impaired CS (27%) and SA (29%) were associated with participation in fewer cognitive activities (β = -0.33, 95% CI = -0.63, -0.03 and β = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.61, -0.03, respectively), while VA (8%) was not (β = -0.34, 95% CI = -0.81, 0.13). In longitudinal models, groups with and without VA, CS, and SA impairments exhibited declines in monthly cognitive activities over time. Annual rates of decline were relatively higher in the VA (β = -0.16, 95% CI = -0.26, -0.05) and CS (β = -0.14, 95% CI = -0.19, -0.09) impaired groups than observed in the respective unimpaired groups (no VA: β = -0.12, 95% CI = -0.15, -0.10; no CS: β = -0.12, 95% CI = -0.15, -0.09), but did not achieve statistical significance. Stereo acuity (β = -0.13, 95% CI = -0.17, -0.09) and no SA (β = -0.13, 95% CI = -0.16, -0.10) groups had similar rates of decline.ConclusionsVisually impaired older adults participate in fewer cognitive activities and although participation decline is similar to the non-impaired, lower overall participation indicates a need to identify cognitively stimulating activities accessible to visually impaired older adults.
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