|
May 2005
NHM Health Focus: Healthy
Vision Month
Healthy Vision Month is sponsored by the National
Eye Institute (NEI) and the National
Eye Health Education Program Partnership. The NEI is part of the
National Institutes of Health,
an agency of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services.
This year, the focus of Healthy
Vision Month is visual rehabilitation. "Visual rehabilitation"
involves training and counseling people with low vision so they can
make the most of the eyesight they have and remain independent as they
go to school or work, take care of their needs at home, and enjoy leisure
activities. Low vision can affect all ages, but it increases dramatically
as people age.
Low
vision, is not the same as blindness. Low vision is 20/70 or worse
and cannot be fully corrected with conventional glasses. People with
low vision have some useful sight, but their lack of visual acuity interferes
with the performance of everyday activities such as reading the newspaper
or other fine print, even while wearing glasses, moving around their
homes or elsewhere without bumping into things, traveling at night,
or identifying money.
Low vision may be caused by eye diseases and health conditions such
as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetes, eye injuries,
or birth defects.
Increasing evidence suggests that life style decisions such as the
wearing of sunglasses, aerobic exercise, and good nutrition can reduce
or prevent vision loss due to macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetes.
Columbia Lighthouse
for the Blind.
Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum has
these resources related to vision:
Activities Exchange: Classic Collection - How
We See: The First Steps of Human Vision
Let's Collaborate: Science Seminar - How
to Fix an Eye
Whats News: Science Updates -
First Effective Treatment to Slow Vision Loss
Health Headquarters: Question of the Week - Who
can you trust?
Health Headquarters: Question of the Week - Fashion
Statement
Health Headquarters: Question of the Week - Regulating
Contact Lenses
Health Headquarters: Question of the Week -
Grandma Always Said ...
Health Headquarters: Health Focus - Preventing
Eye Injuries
|
