Age-related macular degeneration is the result of changes to the macula, the most sensitive central part of the retina of the eye. The macula is the central area of the retina and is used to detect the fine detail when reading, writing, watching television or recognising faces. With age-related macular degeneration, this central vision is distorted or affected, with peripheral or side vision usually remaining unaffected.
The most common forms of age-related macular degeneration are dry and wet. Dry age-related macular degeneration results in a gradual loss of central vision and wet age-related macular degeneration leads to sudden, major vision changes.
Symptoms and characteristics
Common symptoms associated with age-related macular degeneration include:
- a gradual decline in the ability to see objects clearly
- letters appearing smaller with one eye than the other
- difficulty reading items with poor contrast or in low light situations
- distorted vision
- dark or empty spaces blocking the central field of vision
- dimming of colour vision.
Workplace adjustments and solutions
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with age-related macular degeneration to better manage their condition. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, and will vary depending upon the level of vision loss. Some suggestions for workplace modifications include:
- avoid work requiring good colour discrimination
- evaluation of workplace lighting to ensure it meets Australian standards, with the addition of specific task lighting if required
- avoidance of glare though use of a hat or sunglasses or, if inside, changing placement of workstation or the installation of blinds or curtains over windows
- consideration given to the use of adaptive technology in the workplace such as hard copy document magnifiers or screen based magnification software
- use of a larger screen to assist with viewing text, along with modification of contrast, screen versus text colours and brightness levels.
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
Better Health Channel 2010, Vision loss—some causes explained, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 27 November 2011, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Vision_loss_some_causes_explained?OpenDocument.
Centre for Vision Research (no date specified), Macular Degeneration, Department of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Sydney, viewed 27 November 2011, http://www.cvr.org.au/armd.htm.
Macular Degeneration Foundation (no date specified), What is Macular Degeneration?, Macular Degeneration Foundation, Sydney, viewed 27 November 2011, http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/page122150.aspx.
MD Guidelines 1991-2011, Age related Macular degeneration, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 27 November 2011, http://www.mdguidelines.com/.
Vision Australia 2010, Age-related Macular Degeneration Fact Sheet, Vision Australia, Enfield, viewed 27 November 2011, http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=605.