Low vision: When vision fails

Abstract

An 80-year-old woman and her sister who is 85 years old visited their ophthalmologist both complaining of a loss of vision for the past few months. Previously the younger sister was able to drive, prepare meals, read prescription labels, and pay the bills. Lately she has had difficulty with all of these tasks. Both sisters had undergone successful cataract surgery a few years earlier. The younger sister had assumed many of the homecare responsibilities as she felt her older sister not only could not see as well but had some early cognitive impairment. The ophthalmologist uncovered bilateral macular degeneration in both the sisters. The older sister was content with her life situation and was happy with talking books and a reading radio service. She had depended on her younger sister for so long she assumed things would remain the same. As she did not drive and meals were prepared she noticed little loss in her daily activities. The younger sister did find managing the home more difficult and was hoping a new pair of spectacles would cure her visual concerns. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.