Stargardt’s disease is a disease of the eye. It is a form of macular degeneration which affects children and young adults and is sometimes referred to as juvenile macular degeneration.
The disease is inherited from both parents and causes light sensitive cells in the inner back of the eye, the retina, to deteriorate. This occurs mainly in the area of the macula where fine focusing occurs. Peripheral vision, known as side vision is usually preserved and central vision loss occurs. Stargardt’s disease is progressive and will usually result in total blindness.
Symptoms and characteristics
As Stargardt’s disease is progressive early symptoms are milder than later ones:
Early symptoms can include:
- blurred vision not correctable with glasses or contact lenses
- difficulty adapting from bright sunlight to a dimmer room
Later symptoms are as follows:
- progressive deterioration of central vision
- missing areas of central vision
- a central blind spot
- diminishing ability to perceive colours.
For information on similar symptoms please see the links below:
Workplace adjustments and solutions
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with stargardt’s disease to better manage their condition and maintain independence. As there are early and late stages of the disease, these factors will vary depending upon the level of vision loss and will include changes to work tasks and the environment. Some suggestions for workplace modifications include:
- mobility training to assist with getting to and from work, moving around the workplace and work related travel
- evaluation of workplace lighting to ensure it meets Australian standards with the addition of specific task lighting if required for increased brightness or contrast
- the use of magnification software to assist with computer screen magnification or text to speech software
- use of a larger screen to assist with viewing text, along with modification of contrast, screen versus text colours and brightness levels
- the use of specialised scanning software which allows rapid scanning of hard copy documents which are then saved to computer for viewing or listening via text to speech functions
- the use of other adaptive technology to overcome workplace barriers such as barcode scanners for labelling items for easy locating or braille equipment
- large button phones or mobiles with text to speech software to allow for use of text messaging
- facilities and accommodations within the workplace if a guide dog is used for mobility assistance
- the use of magnification aids and devices either portable or desk based to magnify hard copy documents or panels such as that on a photocopier
- GPS equipment with speech output to assist with navigation around the community or when traveling for work.
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
All About Vision 2011, Stargardt’s Disease, All About Vision, San Diego, viewed 10 August 2011, http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/stargardts.htm.
Stargardt’s Australia (no date specified), Stargardt’s Disease, Stargardt’s Australia, online, viewed 10 August 2011, http://www.stargardts-au.org/main/home.htm.
Vision Australia 2008, Stargardt’s, Vision Australia, Enfield, viewed 10 August 2011, http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=598.