Reading by the Elderly (Reading by Subjects with Normal and Low Vision)

  • D. H. A. Aberson
Chapter
Part of the Documenta Ophthalmologica Proceedings Series book series (DOPS, volume 47)

Abstract

The printed word has become one of the most important means of acquiring information and of being able to carry out one’s private affairs. In our society, therefore, people who have reading problems are severely handicapped. They have to cope with problems of isolation and dependence on other people. A large percentage of the population is visually handicapped. This percentage increases with age from less than 10% for people below 75 to 30% for people over 75 (Pitts, 1982). The main factors involved in loss of visual acuity associated with the aging process are retinal defects, decrease of accommodation capacity and transparency of the eye media, and excessive production of tears. Among people over 65, cataracts and glaucoma are roughly eight times more commom than in the general population and retinal disorders are six times more common. Roughly 5% of persons over 65 have visual impairments severe enough to prevent them from reading newspaper print with corrective spectacles (Greenberg & Branch, 1982). The older retina is said to receive only about one-third as much light as does its younger counterpart because of a smaller pupil size and changes in the optical media (Weale, 1961). The rate of recovery from glare is found to be significantly delayed in older persons (Reading, 1968). Age also produces decrements in visual field size, visual search performance and contrast sensitivity (Carter, 1982, Pitts, 1982). In most cases, however people retain some residual vision.

Keywords

Word Recognition Reading Speed High Acuity Letter Size Print Size 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg 1986

Authors and Affiliations

  • D. H. A. Aberson
    • 1
  1. 1.Institute for Perception ResearchEindhovenNetherlands

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