Vision Changes with Dementia | Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. You probably know that dementia can affect your memory and cognitive ability, but did you know that dementia can also cause problems with vision?

Different factors affect your ability to see. In addition to the structure of the eyes, how the brain interprets what you see also plays a significant role in vision. If you have a brain injury or disease that damages the brain, it can interfere with your vision. 
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There are different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most well-known form of memory loss. Additional diseases that cause dementia include:

• Lewy body dementia
• Huntington disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Vascular dementia 

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What vision changes occur and why

Not everyone with dementia will experience the same vision changes. Also, the type of changes and the extent may also vary greatly. Vision changes in people with dementia may develop for a variety of reasons, including the following:

Aging: Many forms of dementia tend to occur later in life. Older adults are at an increased risk of various vision issues. Some of the vision changes may not be due to dementia specifically but instead due to advanced age.

Changes in the visual field: Different forms of dementia may cause the visual field to decrease. If the visual field narrows, it can make it more difficult to navigate in the home without bumping into things. It can also make it dangerous to drive.

Memory problems: One of the main symptoms of dementia is problems with memory. Issues with recall may include difficulty identifying objects. Vision does not only involve the proper functioning of the eyes. The way the brain interprets images also affects a person’s ability to see. With diseases that cause dementia, visual interpretation changes may develop. This means someone may see the object but not recognize what it is.

Reduced peripheral vision: Reduced peripheral vision or side vision can develop in people that have dementia. Being unable to see things around you can make it easier to bump into furniture. It may also make someone with dementia startle more easily since they may not see someone coming towards them from the side.

Visual hallucinations: Another visual problem that may occur with dementia, especially Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia, is visual hallucinations. The visual hallucinations that occur in people with dementia may be very realistic and possibly frightening.

Problems with depth perception: The damage to the brain from dementia often causes a loss of depth perception. A decrease in depth perception can make it difficult to distinguish between flat surfaces and raised surfaces. A loss of depth perception may make it easier to trip or harder to judge distances. 
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Coping with dementia-related vision changes 

Having visual issues in addition to dementia can increase disorientation and cause potential safety problems. Depending on the cause of dementia, you may be able to slow the progression of the disease. Slowing dementia may also slow the development of any visual changes that may occur. Additional ways to cope with dementia-related vision changes include:

Maintaining good eye care: Have regular eye exams to check for eye diseases, such as cataracts and glaucoma, is vital. Also, make sure eyeglass prescriptions are up to date.

Make needed changes to the home: Consider removing throw rugs, which may increase fall risk if depth perception decreases. Improve lighting and decrease clutter to make navigating the home easier.

Use technology: Different types of visual assistance devices may help if depth perception and peripheral vision decrease. For instance, equipment, such as automatic lights, may be helpful.

Consider support from your healthcare team: Managing dementia may involve a variety of healthcare professionals, such as a neurologist, occupational therapist, and vision rehab specialists. Work with your team to develop the best treatment plan for you.

We hope the information above helps you or a family member deal with vision issues from dementia. If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.