ABSTRACT
As routine as the words “there is nothing more that can be done to correct your vision” seem to us, these words can have devastating consequences on those on the receiving end. These words can cause feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, despair, shock, and a host of other feelings (1). Individuals who were vulnerable to such things as illness, family violence, feelings of depression, or social isolation may be at greater risk after learning of the permanence of the vision problem, as chronic vision loss seems to exacerbate other situations that may put an individual at risk (2). It therefore becomes part of our responsibility as eye care professionals to initiate the discussion of the consequences of vision loss, as well as low vision rehabilitation services with our patients within the clinical setting. An open and sensitive discussion of these issues, where we listen as much as we speak, can be very therapeutic for our patients with low vision (3, 4). This chapter will be dedicated to exploring the psychosocial consequences that vision loss has on our patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) so as to help facilitate the physician/patient interaction. This chapter will outline situations concerning an older low-vision patient group. It is designed as an introductory text to this subject. It will be presented in sections dealing with specific topics of concern and will include both anecdotal and scientific information from a wide variety of fields. It will include a review of the eye care professional’s role in interacting with those with vision loss. It will also include a review of some of the more pressing psychological issues affecting the individual with vision loss, a review of interpersonal relationships and family support issues, and will conclude with community interventions for those with low vision.
