Coping with vision loss: maximizing what you can see and do. (Books).by Bill Chapman, EdD This book is a useful resource for people with disorders of the eye that cause partial vision loss, including macular degeneration macular degeneration, eye disorder causing loss of central vision. The affected area, the macula, lies at the back of the retina and is the part that produces the sharpest vision. , glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy diabetic retinopathy n. Retinal changes occurring in long-term diabetes and characterized by punctate hemorrhages, microaneurysms, and sharply defined waxy exudates. , and retinitis pigmentosa Retinitis Pigmentosa Definition Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of inherited disorders that slowly lead to blindness due to abnormalities of the photoreceptors (primarily the rods) in the retina. . Persons with MS, who generally have more subtle difficulties with contrast and color perception, double vision, or oscillopsia (perception that the environment is shaking), will appreciate and perhaps benefit from Dr. Chapman's discussions. Dr. Bill Chapman is uniquely qualified to write this book; he is not only a specialist in vision rehabilitation, but he offers much perspective from his own experiences with Stargardt's disease, a condition that causes loss of central vision. Dr. Chapman emphasizes coping and a "willingness to see the glass half-full." His positive mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. and constructive approach are contagious to the reader. Particularly practical and potentially most helpful to persons with MS are his discussions on how the eye works, what different levels of visual acuity mean with regard to function, and how the use of proper lighting, head positioning, and the best possible glasses/contact lens prescription can work to maximize visual function. Large print, clear illustrations, and careful explanations of vision vocabulary make this book easy reading and a useful reference for anyone affected by visual loss. Hunter House, Inc., Publishers, 2001, 282 pp. $16.95 paperback, $26.95 hardcover. Toll-free: 800-266-5592; fax: 510-865-4295; e-mail: <ordering@hunterhouse.com>; Web site: <www. hunter house.com>. Laura Balcer, MD, MSCE MSCE Master of Science in Civil Engineering MSCE Microsoft Certified Engineer MSCE Machine Secondary Control Element MSCE Masters of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (degree) MSCE Microsoft Certified System Engineer , a neuroopthalmologist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine The University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine, presently located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the United States's first school of medicine, founded at the College of Philadelphia, as the University was then called. in Philadelphia. |
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