There are currently more than 285 million visually impaired people in the world, a number that is expected to triple in the next 30 years. According to the World Health Organization, around 80% of visual impairment is avoidable, which pinpoints the importance of raising awareness about the subject and the methodical examination of our sight. Thinking about blindness or a blind person, one might draw a picture in their mind. How realistic are our perceptions about blind people? Here are five simple facts about living with blindness.
Blind people do not have heightened senses Individuals who live with blindness don't have senses with superpowers, though, they depend upon their other senses to navigate in the world. Hearing is the basic sense for blind people, while for the sighted is their vision. Hence, when the latter is preoccupied looking at a movie, blind people depend upon their hearing to follow it. In other words, visually impaired people rely on their hearing while sighted people pay less attention to it because they're busy looking at information, instead. Hence, there is the misconception that blind people have a more advanced hearing sense, while they simply rely more on it to make sense of the world.
Blind people dream when they're asleep In the manner that a sighted person dreams with their active senses, just like that, a blind person dreams as well. Individuals that have lost their sight at a later stage in life claim to dream with images, something that slowly fades as time progresses. People that were born blind dream as well, experiencing their dreams with their active senses. They hear and feel a dream while they don't see images like sighted people.
Blind people can use computers and smartphones Some visually impaired individuals have partial sight, making it possible for them to see a computer or smartphone screen with the help of a magnifier. People with greater sight-loss, though, access the computer with the help of assistive technology, in two different ways. One way is with the use of a Braille display, which connects to the computer and converts the text into Braille, line-by-line. Another way of accessing the computer is a screen reader that reads out the information seen on the computer screen. The latter is implemented on smartphones as well, where individuals can use assistive technology like TalkBack or VoiceOver to access their phone. The free Envision app is also a great accessibility tool to overcome some digital barriers. The application enables you to read text, find objets and describe scenes around you. Download it.
Blindness is not being in the dark Sighted people tend to think that closing their eyes can offer a glimpse into what blind people see. That, however, is far from reality. There are different types of sight loss because of the various causes of blindness. In some cases, blind individuals can see large objects but their vision is out of focus, while some others may see colors. Seeing the different sources of light, called light perception, is another form of blindness, alongside tunnel vision and many more. Though, one point to consider is the fact that individuals who were born blind cannot tell whether they see total black or not because, simply, they can't really tell.
Blind people don't (have to) look blind Numerous individuals living with sight loss express their frustration about sighted individuals doubting their visual impairment. Blind people learn how to interact with others and how to do things, regardless their visual impairment. In reality, it is estimated that around 2% to 8% of blind individuals use their cane to navigate. Others rely on their guide dog, their partial sight or their sighted guide. Apart from navigation, blind individuals can do pretty much everything a sighted person can; they can cook, put on make up and, simply, be independent. With the help of accessible technology or products, and their own will-power, blind people can be independent. Eventually, this is what makes sighted people to not believe their own eyes.
Overall, it is essential to comprehend that blind people are just like everyone else. Pete Eckert, one of the most admired blind photographers, could not have summed up better the reason he chose to practice photography as a visually impaired individual. "What I get out of taking photos is the event not the picture. I do the large prints to get sighted people thinking. Talking with people in galleries builds a bridge between my mind’s eye and their vision of my work. Occasionally people refuse to believe I am blind. I am a visual person. I just can’t see," Pete Eckert.
Total blindness is a term used to describe those who have complete lack of light perception, documented as no light perception (NLP). Only about 15% of people with eye disorders have total blindness, the majority of those with visual impairment have some level of vision.
Total blindness is a term used to describe those who have complete lack of light perception, documented as no light perception (NLP). Only about 15% of people with eye disorders have total blindness, the majority of those with visual impairment have some level of vision.
Someone can be legally blind but still see colors, shapes and varying degrees of light. In fact, only about 10-15 percent of people who are blind see nothing at all.
Most blind people have some level of vision, but what they can see differs from person to person. Some may only see light. Others may see blurry shapes, figures, or colors. People with total blindness cannot see anything, but it is a misconception that they only see black or darkness.
Almost all of them could have normal vision restored with eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. 90% of visually impaired people live in low- and middle-income countries. 51% of all blindness is due to age-related cataract, the leading cause of blindness.
Complete blindness: You can't see or detect light. This condition is very rare. Congenital blindness: This refers to poor vision that you are born with. The causes include inherited eye and retinal conditions and non-inherited birth defects.
While people who have been blind since birth do indeed dream in visual images, they do it less often and less intensely than sighted people. Instead, they dream more often and more intensely in sounds, smells, and touch sensations.
Color blindness occurs when you are unable to see colors in a normal way. It is also known as color deficiency. Color blindness often happens when someone cannot distinguish between certain colors. This usually happens between greens and reds, and occasionally blues.
They may also struggle to focus when they're in a group of people or when there isn't enough light. A 20/80 vision profile is commonly referred to as nearsightedness. Is minus 7 legally blind? A legally blind prescription is anything that's lower than -2.5, which is the equivalent of 20/200 vision.
Visual acuity less than 20/200 is considered legally blind, but to actually fit the definition, the person must not be able to attain 20/200 vision even with prescription eyewear. Many people who would be legally blind without eyewear can function well in everyday life with appropriate glasses or contact lenses.
But other rare conditions can also cause blindness in people of all ages. More than 4 million adults in the United States above the age of 40 years had low vision or were legally blind in 2022. Experts expect that number to double by 2050 as the population ages.
Under the new criteria, if a person's visual acuity is measured with one of the newer charts, and they cannot read any of the letters on the 20/100 line, they will qualify as legally blind, based on a visual acuity of 20/200 or less.
When most sighted people think “blindness,” they think of a world in total blackness. But, this is far from accurate. A variety of eye diseases, genetic disorders, and birth defects, as well as aging or suffering an injury, can interfere with healthy vision. And these visual impairments don't all “look” the same.
People often talk about seeing like, well then you must see black. Well, no, cause you have to see to know what black is. Therefore I can't see black. It's just nothing.
A narrator describes the action on the screen so even if you can't see it you can imagine what is happening through the narration. However there are other options out there. One device is magnifying television glasses designed to magnify at distance.
Cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens and is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. Cataracts can occur at any age because of a variety of causes, and can be present at birth.
The report reveals that globally there are 43 million people living with blindness and 295 million people living with moderate-to-severe visual impairment. Out of these, a huge 77% is completely preventable or treatable.
People who experience total darkness all the time have “total blindness” whereas those who may be able to see some light, colors, and/or shapes are commonly referred to as having “low vision.” You might have a blind or blurry spot in the middle of your field of vision. Or your peripheral vision may be impaired.
Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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