Key words

Topic Progress:

Instruction

Some of the key words used in this module are explained below. You can print these to use as you work through the module:

Astigmatism – People with astigmatism have difficulty seeing clearly in the distance and close up.

A horse’s head and neck, in front of which is a person riding another horse. The entire image is blurry.

Diabetes – A disease where sugar is high in blood. This can result in many health problems including difficulty in feeling parts of the body (especially feet) and consequent foot wounds, gradual loss of vision, kidney damage, urinary incontinence and difficulty remembering things.

Hyperopia – People with hyperopia are ‘long-sighted’. They can see objects in the distance clearly, however, they find it hard to focus on close objects.

A horse’s head and neck which is blurry, in front of which is a person riding another horse. The foreground of the image is blurry.

Learning disability – A person with a learning disability may have some limitations in learning new skills, including communication and self care.

Myopia – People with myopia are ‘short-sighted’. They can see close objects clearly, however, more distant objects are blurry.

A horse’s neck and head clearly visible, in front of which is another person riding a horse. The background of the image is unclear (blurry).

Occluder – An object that completely covers the eye.

A plastic object with handle and circular end.

Personnel – People who work in a service or organization. Includes people who have had training in a specific health related field who may not have a professional qualification.

Refractive error – A common reason for vision problems, which is usually correctable with the right spectacles or contact lenses. There are different types of refractive error leading to different vision problems. Some examples include astigmatism, hyperopia and myopia.

Instruction

If you find other words that you are not familiar with, ask a colleague or your mentor.