Sight Loss and Dementia

Dementia and sight loss often overlap, and the relationship between them can be confusing, worrying, and overwhelming.

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of progressive conditions that affect the brain. There are over 200 types of dementia.

Common symptoms include:

• Memory difficulties
• Struggling to find words, or other language problems
• Difficulty with everyday routines and completing usual tasks
• Changes to personality, mood and behaviour
• Difficulty processing – sight and also what people are saying to you
• Challenges in planning and problem-solving
  
  

How sight loss and dementia can be linked

• Some types of dementia, such as Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), affect how the brain processes visual information, even when the eyes themselves are healthy.
• People often go to their opticians, thinking their prescription is wrong, but their eyes haven’t changed – it is a change in the brain.
• Clinically, people often describe problems with writing, reading, spelling, mental arithmetic, drawing and recognising objects, as well as depth perception, recognising faces and issues with visual scanning.
  
  

Key Facts

• Research shows people with sight loss are around 50% more likely to develop dementia.

• Sight loss is a risk factor for dementia. Be aware and familiar with the symptoms that may present.
• Sight loss can increase social isolation and depression, both known risk factors for dementia.
  
  

Sight loss is not always dementia

• Some sight loss conditions, such as Charles Bonnet Syndrome, can cause visual hallucinations. These can be frightening but are not dementia and do not affect memory or thinking.
  
  
• Dementia with Lewy Bodies also can present with hallucinations as a symptom, but comes with more long-term progressive implications, as it is a degenerative condition. A holistic overview of medical history should be taken in order that these conditions are not confused.
  
  

How Berkshire Vision can support you

We offer practical support to people living with sight loss, including those affected by dementia:

• One-to-one support
• Help to adapt daily tasks and routines
• Support to reduce isolation and rebuild confidence

You don’t have to face this alone. Contact us:

Telephone: 0118 987 2803

Email: info@berkshirevision.org.uk

Thank you to Younger People with Dementia for support producing this information.