Summary: Adapting To Life Without Sight

Adapting to a life with limited or no sight can be terrifying to a person that previously had sight as a main sensory ability. From infancy we begin using sight to recognize good and bad choices, identify and classify objects, and to gain understanding of our environment. Sight is a direct link to what we understand in our mind. When vision is lost, our ability to function and decipher information is hauled. Individual new to low vision have no idea what they will need and often the members in their support system are clueless to the demands of low vision as well. When addressing the challenges faced by families of individuals with low vision, Bambara (2009) states, “For example, providing assistance for individuals with low vision presents unique challenges to family members who may not understand how and when to provide assistance and what type of assistance to provide. (p. 4) People do not regularly engage in thoughts of loss sight or caring for someone that loses their sight.

Care takers and individuals with low vision will possible need to learn how to work low vision devices, which may requires and investment of additional time and money. According to Bambara (2009), “In addition, families may face economic stress due to the costs associated with purchasing low vision devices that are not covered by insurance companies, rehabilitation services (such as transportation to low vision rehabilitation appointments), and the loss of wages that can result when a family member takes time off work to provide assistance.” (p. 2) Caring for an individual with low vision can add unparalleled stress but the stressful changes can be managed with communication and collaboration. Low vision rehabilitation specialist and organizations can provide resources and outlets for the entire