Expert Eye: Vision and the Aging Worker - PowerPoint Presentation

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Expert Eye:

Vision and the Aging Worker

Marnie Courage, OT Reg. (MB)

Enabling Access Inc.

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YOU ARE AGING!!!!

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Understand the aging demographics and age-related changes related to vision

Become familiar with common age-related vision loss conditions

Understand impact on worker's performance, safety and psychological health. Discuss environmental considerations for injury prevention related to vision loss Become familiar with administrative, engineering and behavioural accommodations to support employees experiencing vision loss.

Objectives

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Seniors accounted for 17.5% of the Canadian

Seniors (65+)represent 15.6% of Manitobans

the first baby boomers turning 65 over the last five years, as well as the increasing life expectancy of Canadians and a low fertility rate.

by 2036, life expectancy for women will rise to 86.2 years from 84.2 and to 82.9 years from 80 for men.

Seniors could represent between 23% and 25% of the total population in 2036

Aging in Canada

(Stats Can, 2019)

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No mandatory retirement age in Canada — Since 2009, human rights laws outlaw it.

Average age of retirement across Canada is 64.3

Some are working well through their 70’s.By 2021, nearly one person in four in the labour force (roughly 24%) could be 55 years of age or over, the highest proportion on record."

Aging Workforce

(Stats Can, 2019)

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Time loss injuries for 55+

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What does Blindness mean?

The term “blindness” covers a broad spectrum of visual disability, from when your sight is impaired enough to interfere with daily activities like reading, cooking or driving, up to total blindness.

Vision-related Terms

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What does being Legally blind mean?

is a level of blindness that has been defined by law to limit some activities for safety reason, such as driving, or to determine eligibility for disability-related government programs and benefits.

Someone is considered to be legally blind when:visual acuity is 20/200 (or 6/60) or less in both eyes after correction, and/or

a visual field of 20 degrees or narrower.

Vision-related Terms

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What is Low Vision?

is a loss of eyesight that cannot be improved with conventional glasses, contact lenses, or medical and surgical interventions.

Low vision can make everyday tasks difficult. A variety of disorders that affect the eye and the visual system may cause low vision. Birth defects, injuries, certain diseases of the body, and aging all may lead to loss of sight.

Vision-related Terms

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Vision Loss

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Vision Impairments

Vision Impairments are the most frequent eye problems. These refractive errors include:

Nearsightedness (myopia)

Farsightedness (hyperopia)

Astigmatism (distorted vision at all distances)

Presbyopia, the loss of ability to focus up close, which typically hits from age 40 to age 50.

Nearly every one of these conditions can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. 

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Types of visual field loss can be grouped as follows:

Central field loss: Vision is reduced or absent in the middle of people’s vision.

Peripheral field loss: People only see in the central portion of their visual field, sometimes called “tunnel vision”.Other field loss: People have scattered patches of obscured vision, have a ring of field loss, have field loss in the left or right part of their vision, or other field loss.

Field of Vision

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Normal changes to the aging eye include:

Diminished focusing power

Need for more light; increased sensitivity to glareFluctuating visionDifficulty with light/dark adaptation

Reduced sensitivity to color perception and contrast; reduced depth perception

Age-related Vision Changes

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Presbyopia

 is the loss of ability to see close objects or small print.

Development is a normal process that happens slowly over a lifetime. You may not notice any change until after age 40. Often hold reading materials at arm's length. Some people get headaches or "tired eyes" while reading or doing other close work. Presbyopia is typically corrected with reading glasses.

Age-related Vision Problems

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Floaters

 are tiny spots or specks that float across the field of vision.

Most people notice them in well-lit rooms or outdoors on a bright day.Floaters often are normal, but can sometimes be indications of eye problems such as retinal detachment, especially if they are accompanied by light flashes. If you notice a sudden change in the type or number of spots or flashes, see your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Age-related Vision Problems

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Dry eyes

 happen when tear glands cannot make enough tears or produce poor quality tears.

Dry eyes can be uncomfortable, causing itching, burning or even some loss of vision. Your eye doctor may suggest using a humidifier in your home or special eye drops that simulate real tears. Surgery may be needed in more serious cases of dry eyes.

Age-related Vision Problems

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Tearing

, or having too many tears, can come from being sensitive to light, wind, or temperature changes.

Protecting your eyes by shielding them or wearing sunglasses can sometimes solve the problem.Tearing may also mean that you have a more serious problem, such as an eye infection or a blocked tear duct. People with dry eyes may tear excessively because dry eyes are easily irritated. Your eye doctor can treat or correct both of these conditions.

Age-related Vision Problems

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Cataracts

 are cloudy areas that develop in the lens in the front of the eye.

Cataracts keep light from easily passing through the lens to the back of the eye (the retina), causing the loss of eyesight. Cataracts usually form slowly, causing no pain, redness, or tearing in the eye. Some stay small and do not alter eyesight. If they become large or thick and have a significant impact on vision they can almost always be removed with surgery.

Age-related Vision Disease

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Glaucoma

 is usually related to increased pressure inside the eye. If it is not treated, this condition can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness.

Most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain from increased pressure. Also some people can have damage to the eye from glaucoma, even with normal pressure in the eye. Treatment may include prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, or surgery

Age-related Vision loss

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Retinal disorders

 

are a leading cause of blindness in the US and in other developed countries.The retina is a thin lining on the back of the eye made up of cells that detect visual images and pass them on to the brain. Retinal disorders interrupt this transfer of images.

Common ones include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment.

Age-related Vision loss

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AMD

- The macula is the small central portion of the retina containing cones) that are sensitive to light. This area of the retina is responsible for detailed vision, such as facial recognition and reading.

AMD is characterized by the loss of cells in this area causing blurred central vision. It contributes to vision loss but does not cause total blindness. If advanced, there is no cure but in early stages there is benefit from nutritional supplements.

Age-related Vision loss

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Smoking and Age-related Vision Loss

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Denial or mal-adaptive Acceptance

Embarrassment

Isolation Shame and guiltDepressionBehaviours

Withdraws socially

Avoids reading and other visual demands

Does not share with employer or ask for accommodations

Resistant to offered accommodations

Psychosocial Impact of Vision Loss

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Safety Implications

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Where are we now?

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This landmark legislation provides a proactive process to remove barriers affecting persons with disabilities and many other citizens. The Manitoba Government is committed to achieve significant progress by 2023, making Manitoba more inclusive for everyone.

5 Standards:

Customer Service

Employment

Information and Communication

Design of the Built Environment

Education

Learn about the AMA legislation

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1 of the 5 standards to be developed under the AMA

lists rules for organizations to create, provide, and receive information and communications that people with disabilities can access.

The standard gives all people an equal chance to learn and be active in their workplaces and communities.Signage, e-communication, website, brochures, training, etc.

Information and Communication Standard

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1 of the 5 standards to be developed under the AMA

lists rules for organizations to design and plan features of the built environment.

Includes signage guidelines and images regarding colour contrast and size of letteringDetectable tactile warning near stairs and around obstacles.

Design of the Built Environment Standard

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Detectable warnings- tactile information

Signage

should be simple, uncluttered and incorporate plain language and easily understood symbols and/or diagrams. Consistent placement of signage enhances usability for everyone Signage font- not be stylized or italicized• be sans serif fonts and have Arabic numbers

tactile

characters, and Braille

In complex situations colour coding can help with wayfinding.

City of Wpg’s Universal Design Standards

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Ensure Safety Program protects from

common causes for eye injuries:

Flying objects (bits of metal, glass);Tools;Particles;Chemicals;

Any combination of these or other hazards.

Create Vision Safety & Health Program

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Engage employees in safety procedures:

There are three things you can do to help prevent an eye injury:

Know the eye safety dangers at work.Eliminate hazards before starting work. Use machine guarding, work screens or other engineering controls.

Use proper eye protection.

Create Vision Safety & Health Program

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Engage employees in Eye Health:

See your family physician regularly to check for diseases that could cause eye problems, like diabetes.

Have an eye exam with pupil dilation, at least once every year, if you have diabetes or a family history of eye disease.See ophthalmologist every one to two years. It is important because most eye diseases can be treated when found in an early stage.

See an eye doctor immediately if you have any loss of eyesight, blurred vision, eye pain, double vision, redness, swelling of your eye or eyelid, or fluids coming from the eye.

Create Vision Safety & Health Program

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Learn to Recognize an eye injury right away:

The person has obvious pain or trouble seeing.

The person has a cut or torn eyelid.One eye does not move as well as the other.One eye sticks out compared to the other.

The eye has an unusual pupil size or shape.

There is blood in the clear part of the eye.

The person has something in the eye or under the eyelid that can't be easily removed.

Create Vision Safety & Health Program

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HR and Safety need to collaborate ensure Stay at work and Return to Work focus:

Specific employee accommodations- request that employee provide limitations from a health care specialist and any recommendations for workplace accommodations

Prioritize improvements that everyone will benefit from (general vision-related environmental and communication design and processes)

Supportive Employment

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To have a supportive and consistent process to ensure success for employees returning to work or staying at work.

To have a formal process for obtaining relevant information respecting an employee’s level of ability and functional limitations to assist with return to work initiatives and related employment accommodation.

To ensure managers / supervisors and employees work together to develop individualized return to work plans that recognize and respect an employee’s abilities and restrictions and ensures a safe and timely return to work.

Supportive Employment Objectives

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Alternate format or larger print for training, instructions, safety hazards, machine operation, etc.

Bright

Colour Contrast tape around hazardsMachine Guarding Detectable tactile information where change in elevation (stairs, platforms, etc.)Consistent signage placement, font, symbols, etc.

Individualized eye PPE screening

Offer eye exams

General Vision-related Considerations

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Low vision aids include telescopic glasses, lenses that filter light, and magnifying glasses.

useful electronic devices that you can either hold in your hand or put directly on your reading material.

E-Books, iPads® and similar electronic devices often can be adjusted to provide large dark fonts and are helpful for many patients with moderate impairments.

Employee-Specific Low Vision Aids

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Low vision Aids

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Screen Magnifier programs to increase size of text on computer screen, read back text, (e.g. ZoomText, Microsoft Magnifier)

Screen Reader program to read back text on screen (e.g. Microsoft Narrator, JAWS, NVDA)

Optical Character Recognition programs and devices for scanning typed documents and converting to text (e.g. Kurzweil 1000,

OpenBook

, ABBYY Fine reader)

Low vision Computer Aids

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Review laws and standards related to Vision and Accommodation

Connect HR and Safety –Create Supportive Employment Program

Audit workplace environment and practicesOffer company-wide Vision Loss Education Eye exams with partnering clinicEnsure vision safety practices are maintained

Provide alternate formats for all workplace communication, training and web-based programs.

Connect with Vision Specialists and Workplace Accommodation Consultants

Summary Action Plan

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Statistics Canada 2019. Retrieved from,

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/190930/dq190930a-eng.htm

Statistics Canada, 2019. Retrieved from, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/190930/cg-a004-eng.htm

Statistics Canada, 201. Retrieved from,

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410006001

Statistics Canada,

Projected trends to 2031 for the Canadian labour force. Retrieved from,

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/110817/dq110817b-eng.htm

Safe Work Manitoba, Injury Statistics Report 2009-201. Retrieved from,

https://www.safemanitoba.com/Page%20Related%20Documents/resources/Manitoba%20Workplace%20Injury%20Statistics%20Report%202009-2018_SWMB.pdf

Cleavland

Clinic, 2020. Retrieved from,

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/8567-common-aged-related-eye-problems

References

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Smoking and Vision Loss, retrieved from,

https://www.distinctiveeyewear.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/smoking-infographic-580x2218.png

American Academy of Ophthalmology, retrieved from, ttps://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-work

Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Retrieved from,

https://cnib.ca/en/sight-loss-info/blindness/what-blindness?region=mb

Accessibility for Manitobans Act, Retrieved from,

https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/a001-7e.php

City of Winnipeg’s Universal Design Standard 2015 , Retrieved from,

https://winnipeg.ca/ppd/Documents/CityPlanning/UniversalDesign/Access_Design_Standards.pdf

References

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Marnie Courage, O.T. Reg. (MB)

CEO & Inclusion Specialist

www.enablingaccess.ca