Vision for the Future: Meeting the Challenge of Sight Loss

How does it feel to be losing sight? How can people be helped to face the emotional, social and practical trauma of failing vision? How might the explanation of diagnosis and prognosis affect the patient's response and rehabilitation to loss of sight? The author cites the "consumer" patient's experience, tracing their career in disability from onset to registration as visually impaired through to rehabilitation and aftercare. She emphasizes the psychological and emotional response to loss of vision and calls for a greater input of counselling and psychotherapeutic support. The pros and cons of a multidisciplinary counselling approach are considered. The book explores some of the difficulties, constraints and emotional defences which may affect the range of caring professionals who are involved in offering support to the patient.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Early days - background and initiation of the study: interviewing patients; profile of participating local authorities. Part 2 Some thoughts on losing sight - literature survey: general understanding to loss of sight; the role of the ophthalmologist; patients' response to registration as visually impaired. Part 3 The career begins - awareness of sight loss: the general practitioner. Part 4 The career progresses - contact with the ophthalmologist: seeing the ophthalmologist and explanation of diagnosis; did the ophthalmologist help prepare "patients" for sight loss?; the doctor/patient relationship and potential for change; conclusions; recommendations. Part 5 Registration - a point of no return?: patients' feelings and perceptions concerning registration; acute psycho-social distress; stigmatization; negative denial response; resignation; preparation for registration; perceived advantages and disadvantages of registration; the administration of the registration process. Part 6 "What does the future hold for me now?" - evaluation of patients' psycho-social response to loss of vision: do we become what we think we are?; case examples and alternative for practice; the psychological and social reaction to loss of sight; practical adjustment; physical health; worry, anxiety, emotional pain, puzzlement; denial, despair, anger, bitterness, refusal to accept; self image; relationships with others; negative changes in social relationships; conclusions. Part 7 Counselling and what it means to clients: "counselling" - the case presentation of Mary; the case presentation of Lottie; who should provide a counselling service; conclusions and recommendations. Part 8 New roads lie ahead - rehabilitation after care services: how patients managed before assistance was provided; the types of help offered and perceived; thoughts on who most helped clients work through feelings of loss of sight; did rehabilitation change perceptions about visual impairment?; summary. Part 9 Arriving and feeling comfortable with ourselves - the question of adjustment. Part 10 Major recommendations.