He’s An Instructor For The Blind And Visually Impaired Explaining How “Blindness Is A Spectrum,” While Also Showing You What That Can Look Like
There are several beliefs about blindness and blind people that simply aren’t true. And they seem to be derived mainly from an unfamiliarity with the way blindness works. For example, many people seem to think that to experience blindness, all you need to do is close your eyes.
Mike Mulligan (@blindonthemove) is an orientation and mobility specialist, and he’s raising awareness and debunking myths about the blind and visually impaired community on TikTok.
In a viral video that has received 21 million views, Mike demonstrates what people with varying visual impairments might see through different simulation glasses.
A big misconception that many people have about blindness is that blind individuals see nothing but pitch blackness. However, that is not the case for most blind people.
“Blindness is a spectrum and not all or nothing! Only a small percentage of people who are blind see nothing at all. Many still have some remaining vision, and everyone’s experience is unique and varies greatly,” Mike wrote in the caption of his video.
First, Mike illustrates what the vision of individuals with glaucoma might look like. Glaucoma is an eye disease affecting over three million Americans.
It causes damage to the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and blindness. It usually affects a person’s peripheral vision but can also affect central vision, depending on the person.
Next up is cataracts, which currently affect 25 million Americans. It is very common in older individuals. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than half of Americans above the age of 80 have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of them.
Cataracts cause blurry, hazy vision. Having cataracts is often likened to looking through a foggy window. The more severe the cataract, the blurrier the vision.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person or dog
Then, Mike simulates what macular degeneration is like. Macular degeneration affects about 20 million Americans, and it causes a loss of sight in the central field of vision.
According to the Mayo Clinic, macular degeneration occurs when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged.
It may start in one eye before developing in another or arise simultaneously in both eyes. Generally, people with macular degeneration retain peripheral vision, so not all sight is lost.
The following simulation is of CMV Retinitis, a severe viral eye infection that can lead to blindness. It used to be a more common eye disease, but fortunately, treatment for it has improved vastly.
CMV Retinitis generates lots of floaters, which are spots in vision that drift across the eyes. They can appear as grayish specks, threads, or lines.
Finally, there’s diabetic retinopathy, an eye condition that results from complications with diabetes. The disease inflicts damage to blood vessels in the retina due to high blood sugar levels.
It affects about eight million Americans and causes those who have it to see dark floating spots or streaks that resemble cobwebs.
So as you can see, every blind or visually impaired person’s experience is different and cannot be lumped into neat categories.
@blindonthemove Blindness is a Spectrum and not all or nothing! Only a small percentage of peopme who are blind see nothing at all…many still have some remaining vision…and everyones experience is unique and varies greatly #instructorfortheblind #blind #Vision #eyedisease #simulation #awareness #blindness #spectrum
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