Visual Limitations/Difficulties
(7 day look back period)

May is “Healthy Vision Month.” Many of our residents wear glasses and/or have cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or neurological disorders. Unfortunately, our residents may be experiencing & voicing the following problems.

Halos around lights
• Floaters
• Flashes of light
• “Curtains” over their eyes.
• Their vision is “cloudy.”
• Side vision only.

As Direct Care givers, we need to communicate these irregularities to the charge nurses so we can provide intervention whenever possible.

Behaviors the residents may be demonstrating are as follows:

• Bumping into objects or other people.
• Leaving food on one side of their plate.
• Turning or tilting their head to the side in order to see things.
• Missing their chair when getting ready to sit.

When caring for our residents with known visual impairment, we need to be sure we instruct them about the location of the food on their plates in relation to the clock, where objects are in their room-- and keep them the same, to not cause accidents for them-- speak to them prior to moving them or performing any cares. Also, be sure their glasses are well fitting and clean.

By Tammy Shimon, RN, BSN