Visual field impairments can have an impact upon an individual’s functional ability and engagement in activities of daily living as follows (this is not an exclusive list):
- The person may not see objects clearly.
- Reading may be a problem due to difficulties scanning the full page.
- The individual may not see items on table, on the floor etc.
- The individual may not see people approaching.
- The individual may not be able to mobilise safely in their environment e.g. they may bang into walls or trip over items.
Functional Implications:
- The individual may experience one or more of the above difficulties and these can impact on their ability to participate safely and effectively in activities, whether these are personal or domestic activities of daily living, leisure or work related activities.
- These difficulties can result in confusion for the individual and their carers as they may lack an understanding of why they are unable to do simple tasks in the absence of any physical or cognitive problems.
- The individual may experience headaches and/or fatigue.
- The individual may be reluctant to participate in tasks.
- The individual may become frustrated and irritated.