Low Vision and Blindness Among Midlife and Older Adults

Sharts‐Hopko, Nancy C.

doi:10.1097/hnp.0b013e3181a110bb

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The impact of vision problems in older adults should affect daily institutional care (Sharts‐Hopko 2009) in creating a healthy environment for older persons with low vision. Professional caregivers can improve the quality of life of the nursing home resident by delivering adequate care (Brunnström et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual functioning in nursing home residents: information in client records

Sinoo

Kort

Duijnstee

2012

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual functioning in nursing home residents: information in client records

Sinoo

Kort

Duijnstee

2012

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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“…It is very likely that the deterioration of sensory perception, which is a common complaint in older humans and is often due to the degeneration of the peripheral sensory organs (Congdon et al 2004; Tobias et al 1988) may also result in central histopathology. In particular, the loss of either hearing or sight severely impacts the quality of life, thus contributing to social withdrawal, anxiety and depression (Sharts-Hopko 2009; Tobias et al 1988). Whether such age-related alterations in sensory input influence the aging process within the brain is not well understood, but given the large literature describing plastic changes in neuronal circuits, synapses and glial cells in sensory cortical areas following sensory deprivation (Hensch 2005; Tremblay et al 2010a), we hypothesized that age-related changes in sensory function could influence the normal process of cortical senescence in a similar manner.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of aging and sensory loss on glial cells in mouse visual and auditory cortices

Tremblay

Zettel

Ison

et al. 2012

Glia

281

251

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Normal aging is often accompanied by a progressive loss of receptor sensitivity in hearing and vision, whose consequences on cellular function in cortical sensory areas have remained largely unknown. By examining the primary auditory (A1) and visual (V1) cortices in two inbred strains of mice undergoing either age-related loss of audition (C57BL/6J) or vision (CBA/CaJ), we were able to describe cellular and subcellular changes that were associated with normal aging (occurring in A1 and V1 of both strains) or specifically with age-related sensory loss (only in A1 of C57BL/6J or V1 of CBA/CaJ), using immunocytochemical electron microscopy and light microscopy. While the changes were subtle in neurons, glial cells and especially microglia were transformed in aged animals. Microglia became more numerous and irregularly distributed, displayed more variable cell body and process morphologies, occupied smaller territories, and accumulated phagocytic inclusions that often displayed ultrastructural features of synaptic elements. Additionally, evidence of myelination defects were observed, and aged oligodendrocytes became more numerous and were more often encountered in contiguous pairs. Most of these effects were profoundly exacerbated by age-related sensory loss. Together, our results suggest that the age-related alteration of glial cells in sensory cortical areas can be accelerated by activity-driven central mechanisms that result from an age-related loss of peripheral sensitivity. In light of our observations, these age-related changes in sensory function should be considered when investigating cellular, cortical and behavioral functions throughout the lifespan in these commonly used C57BL/6J and CBA/CaJ mouse models.

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“…The participants experienced that they had low knowledge about visual function, lacked the skills needed in vision testing and assessment and acknowledged that they had paid little attention to vision. A review has also documented that vision is given little attention in municipal health care services and that vision specialists are not an integrated part of rehabilitation services [ 41 ]. Competence and care for VIs in rehabilitation is described as being less integrated and conceptualised than other outcomes after stroke, such as motor function, language and cognitive impairments [ 24 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a structured visual assessment after stroke in municipal health care services

Mathisen

Eilertsen

Ormstad

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Visual impairments (VIs) affect 60% of stroke survivors, and have negative consequences for rehabilitation and post-stroke life. VIs after stroke are often overlooked and undertreated due to lack of structured routines for visual care after stroke. This study aims to identify and assess barriers and facilitators to the implementation of structured visual assessment after stroke in municipal health care services. The study is part of a larger knowledge translation project. Methods Eleven leaders and municipal interdisciplinary health care professionals participated in qualitative interviews. During two workshops, results from the interviews were discussed with 26 participants from municipal health care services and user representatives. Data from interviews and workshops were collected before the intervention was implemented and analyzed using content analysis. Results The analysis identified individual and contextual barriers and facilitators. The individual barriers were related to the participants' experiences of having low competence of visual functions and vision assessment skills. They considered themselves as generalists, not stroke experts, and some were reluctant of change because of previous experiences of unsuccessful implementation projects. Individual facilitators were strong beliefs that including vision in stroke care would improve health care services. If experienced as useful and evidence based, the new vision routine would implement easier. Contextual barriers were experiences of unclear responsibility for vision care, lack of structured interdisciplinary collaboration and lack of formal stroke routines. Time constraints and practical difficulties with including the vision tool in current medical records were also expressed barriers. Contextual facilitators were leader support and acknowledgement, in addition to having a flexible work schedule. Conclusions This study shows that improving competence about VIs after stroke and skills in assessing visual functions are particularly important to consider when planning implementation of new vision routines in municipal health care services. Increased knowledge about the consequences of living with VIs after stroke, and the motivation to provide best possible care, were individual facilitators for changing clinical practice. Involving knowledge users, solutions for integrating new knowledge in existing routines, along with easily accessible supervision in own practise, are essential facilitators for promoting a successful implementation.

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Low Vision and Blindness Among Midlife and Older Adults

Cited by 9 publications

References 28 publications

Visual functioning in nursing home residents: information in client records

Visual functioning in nursing home residents: information in client records

Effects of aging and sensory loss on glial cells in mouse visual and auditory cortices

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a structured visual assessment after stroke in municipal health care services

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