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Many older people experience changes in their vision as they age. What is more worrisome is when these changes in vision are connected with the onset of Alzheimer's. Typical vision changes include cataracts, reduced sensitivity to light, decreased visual acuity, and shortsightedness. Although these symptoms do not relate to dementia, they should still be addressed by proper eye care and regular check ups.
The visual problems related to Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia are much more complex and can be more disturbing to the sufferer. People can develop difficulty in reading and comprehending what they are reading, judging distances and determining color or contrast.
Judging distances can cause falls and car accidents. This problem can also compound existing loss of balance due to other causes. Color perception may result in inappropriate choices of clothes but may also cause other related problems.
One of the most disturbing symptoms is an inability to discriminate between an image in a mirror and reality. The person may think that the image in the mirror is another person and even carry on a conversation. In extreme cases, with people I have known, all of the mirrors had to be taken down or covered because the person became fearful of the images in the mirrors.
Alzheimer's is a sad condition. But addressing the issues with a positive attitude helps considerably to ameliorate the effects.
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