The student will develop an appreciation of the effects age-related changes in vision have on daily living activities by participating in activities which simulate difficulty with focusing and seeing.

Appropriate for Grade Level: K-3 (May be adapted for older students.)

Many older adults experience a loss of ability to focus on objects at a close distance. This change usually begins in mid-life. Other visual changes that may occur later in life are: increased sensitivity to bright lights and glare, clouding of vision due to cataracts, and needing more time to shift focus from near to far, decrease in peripheral vision or other forms of vision loss. Approximately 95% of individuals over age 70 develop some form of vision loss. While there are many methods to compensate for these changes, older adults are likely to experience some problems with daily tasks due to vision related changes.

Plastic safety goggles - (several pair) lenses coated with Petroleum Jelly
Plastic magnetic letters in various colors
Several children's books or textbooks
"Fuzzy Eyeballs" Activity Center Sheet .PDF (download and print)

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1. Conduct the activity with a variety of other impairment glasses such as:
   
   
   1. Stick label dots in the center of lenses, leaving peripheral area clear to simulate macular degeneration.
      
   2. Cover each lenses with tape or felt leaving only a 1/2 inch circular opening and shield the sides of the glasses to block peripheral vision to simulate glaucoma.
      
      
2. Have students brainstorm and list ideas for things that could be done to make it easier for an older person with vision problems to be safe and comfortable. (ie. provide more light, buy large print book, make sure there are no objects in their path they could trip on, etc.)
   
   
3. Ask students to write about the activity he/she experienced. How did you feel with the glasses on? Were you frustrated? What couldn't you do well?

Positively Aging® Curriculum Project
Teaching Materials
Unit 6: Challenges and Changes: Sensitivity to Vision & Hearing Compromises
Lesson 4: Living with Visual Impairments

Excellent source of background information on common eye disorders, activities, and directions for making a variety of impairment glasses are included.

NOTE: follow the instructions to register or login to access the curriculum.

From the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Aging Research and Education Center. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Aging Research and Education Center.