Vision Impairments Books

"Seeing Color: It's My Rainbow, Too" is a wonderful introduction to Color Vision Deficiency (CVD). Before reading this book, I had the false assumption that CVD was the same as being colorblind. Was I ever wrong! I learned more in this short volume than I had anticipated. The author, Arlene Evans, has taken very difficult information and broken it down for people of all ages to understand.

...As we know, Joey Knight has an X chromosome affected with CVD, which he inherited from his mother. If he becomes a father, his sons will have a typical color vision because they will inherit Joey's Y chromosome. In the rare cases when both a man and his son have reduced color vision, the son inherited his affected X from his mother...

And on the story goes. There is a wonderful glossary and bibliography in the back. The book covers everything from why people have DVD to what occupations might be a problem for them and to what can be done in the way of detecting, correcting, and to help deal with CVD. This should be a must read for all preschool and elementary school teachers. I agree with the author that there needs to be a website by and for those with CVD.

Adults and kids alike can learn a lot about "color blindness" (or, really, "color vision deficiency/CVD") by reading this book. It's written in a clear, friendly way and yet doesn't skimp on the details. Reading it, I learned so much about living with CVDs. I also learned the scientific information about how we see (or don't see) color. I think kids of all ages, parents, teachers, and medical professionals would benefit from, and enjoy, this book. Cute illustrations, too.

Most of us take the ability to see color for granted, but for those affected by color vision deficiency (CVD) life can be challenging.

In Seeing Color: It's My Rainbow Too, the book starts by illustrating the difficulties faced by a child, Joey Knight, who struggles to identify colors in the same way as other children. As a toddler, the color of shoes or crayons was a mystery to Joey, and as he grew older colored maps and clothing were tricky. Like others with CVD, Joey developed coping strategies, such as remembering that the red traffic light is always on the top, and the green on the bottom, to help him deal with everyday situations.

Joey's life provides an ideal introduction to CVD and sets the scene for the rest of the book. Arlene Evans, a registered nurse, takes readers through the key issues, from how we see shapes and colors and how we learn about them, to the ways and means of detecting, correcting and coping with CVD. Arlene writes in a clear and concise manner, making the book suitable for both youngsters, adults and teachers to understand, as well as highlighting the plight of CVD for both those affected and people keen to learn more.

There's a very handy glossary of key terms included at the back, which help explain some of the terminology associated with eyes and CVD. Overall, the book is an extremely useful introduction to CVD and is sure to prove essential for parents and teachers dealing with children who see the world in different colors.

The Review
This is a small work of 52 text pages, offered in 9 chapters. Joey Knight explains a little of what a child who has Color Vision Deficiency might face as they begin learning our world, enter school, and decide a life occupation. Writer Evans, a Registered Nurse who served as a school nurse for over two decades, offers an explanation of color and rainbows, how we see shape and color, as well as the importance of cones on the retina. Genetic traits which can be passed from one generation to another, and how Color Vision Deficiency carried by the x chromosome is passed from parent to child is explained in depth. A variety of testing methods are used to detect the condition. CVD is not correctable as is near sightedness or similar eye problems. People who have Color Vision Deficiency cannot explain completely to those of us who do not also have the condition exactly how they see. Evans goes on to point out that Color Vision Deficiency need not be thought of as `the end of the world.' There are lots of jobs to be had for those who cannot see color, living in a color coded world is doable even for those who cannot really see the color. Evans relates that shopping for a person having Color Vision Deficiency may necessitate a little extra care. Dressing for the day is made easier when the color blind buy and wear same color socks for instance ... all brown, etc, or have their non color blind spouse, parent or room mate mark tags with the color word.

Writer Evans has produced an excellent, well written, easily read book in Seeing Color: It's My Rainbow, Too. The causes for Color Vision Deficiency as well as some of the variants of the condition are explained in enough `kid friendly' depth that much of the uncertainty facing those who have color blindness should be resolved. Seeing Color: It's My Rainbow, Too is meant to aid parents, teachers as well as youngsters themselves who may have the condition. Seeing Color: It's My Rainbow, Too is presented in short; easily digested chapters written in plain English, embellished with simple line drawings and a sample of common color blindness tests commonly used in the school setting.

Seeing Color: It's My Rainbow, Too helps children with the condition realize they are not strange or insufficient, nor are they alone. Strategies for sustaining the child who may have CVD are offered so that parents and teachers can help these kids begin to see the colors around them in a different way and begin to adapt their environment to meet their very unique situation.

Seeing Color: It's My Rainbow, Too should prove to be an excellent resource/teaching tool for teachers and parents alike as they guide youngsters into an understanding of what CVD is and is not. The book is a read to for younger kids 5-11. Pre Teens and Teens alike will be able to read, understand and verbalize what they have learned.

Excellent read, happy to recommend.

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Reviewed by: molly martin

I just started wearing glasses, so when i had to write a report for school I chose the subject of eyeglasses and I found this book in the library.I liked this book a lot because it was very interesting.I liked the pictures too!!!!!

This two-volume set is divided into two areas -- visual disorders and vision rehabilitation. Each of these areas is then subdivided into chapters in which contributors cover specific topics in depth. The greatest strength of the set is the extensive, detailed review of the field of vision loss and vision rehabilitation. It appears that no area has been overlooked in this review of information. No other text in the field of vision rehabilitation matches the depth and breadth of information compiled here. The quality and quantity of information is outstanding and the editors and contributors are leading experts in their respective fields of vision rehabilitation.

In my husband's situation, his vision loss happened suddenly and left both of us wondering to whom we should turn for help and how to get in contact with agencies and persons. The Guide filled this purpose quite well. It also supplied us with good general information about a number of areas about which we needed information but didn't know it until we read the guide. It comes in large bold print which may be helpful. This did not help my husband but it did help me since we "read" the guide together. I read and my husband listened.

This book is clearly written, covers a lot of material and is a really nice resource for people with macular degeneration. Much of the emphasis is on patients with vision loss and the font size is large to aid in reading. However, it also offers calm advice and information to the newly diagnosed. In fact, it offered me much more useful information than did the retinal specialist. The authors avoid getting too technical and this is both a plus and a minus. That is, most readers will have little trouble understanding almost everything in the book. On the other hand, if you want more detail, more up to date medical information, and more a more critical approach, you will need to use this book as your starting point. The only other negatives that I can remember are a very non-critical description of 'alternative' medicine and a somewhat confusing description of visual rehabilitation methods.
On the whole, if you have been newly diagnosed with macular degeneration or have been facing it for a long time, this is must reading. However, this should be your first book on the subject and all are advised to expand beyond this as a reference.

I used this book as one of my sources for a research paper on macular degeneration(AMD). It was my most useful and most cited source. I see it as a must read for anyone facing AMD, whether they have AMD or someone they care about has it. The writing is clear and informative. It explains the disease very well, as well as giving great information on what you can do now that you are diagnosed.

This book is an excellent reference for someone who has just learned that they have Macular Degeneration. It has a wealth of information and actual stories from people who are going through the same thing. It sure helps to reassure the patient.

THIS BOOK HELPED ME WITH EVERYTHING I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MACULAR DEGENERATION. IT WILL BE A GOOD REFERENCE BOOK FOR THE FUTURE. MACULAR IS SOMETHING I MUST BE CONCERNED ABOUT IN MY FAMILY.

Anyone diagnosed with AMD needs to read this book--it is full of great information to help ease your mind. Also, the author includes updates on the latest medical studies.

A friend suggested that I read up on Lasik before having it done. I found this book to be informative as well as easy to read and understand. I also found the website ([...]) to have even more information, as well as many testimonials from patients who had Dr. Caster perform their Lasik, I felt that I had found the right doctor for me!! My procedure was easy, painless and done in five minutes!! I am so greatful to my friend who suggested this book!! If you are interested in getting the best possible vision, you need to see Dr. Andrew I. Caster at the Caster Eye Center. I am so happy that I did!

This book is packed with answers. I feel like a mini-expert on Lasik now. I found the author's website for anyone interested:

http://www.castervision.com

Dr. Caster describes in detail the LASIK procedure, a miraculous new laser eye surgery that can cure nearsightedness and astigmatism. After I read the book, I had Dr. Caster operate on my eyes, and I have now thrown away my glasses. This is 21st-century medicine delivered in the 20th century!

This book is extremely informative! It pretty much answered every question I had regarding LASIK, in a very objective and easy-to-understand manner. In fact, I was so impressed by Dr. Caster that I scheduled an initial (and free) consultation, to see if I was a candidate. Turns out I was, and after a more thorough pre-op exam, including an unanticipated trip to a retinal specialist (they saw something they wanted checked out and preferred a specialist's seal of approval), I went through with the LASIK procedure. I can't praise this book enough, for giving me helpful information that made me a better, more informed patient. I felt very much in control -- well, as much as I could be, under the circumstances; and that, I think, should be any patient's ultimate objective, regardless of the medical procedure.

Dr. Caster describes in detail the LASIK procedure, a miraculous new laser eye surgery that can cure nearsightedness and astigmatism. After I read the book, I had Dr. Caster operate on my eyes, and I have now thrown away my glasses. This is 21st-century medicine delivered in the 20th century!

Gill demonstrates not only his education, but his dedication to the field of research and methodology in his work. Explaining methods and analytical tools in a descriptive, yet still simplistic, fashion, Gill allows the reader to learn his opinion. The book, however, did carry a slight tone of arrogance that was unbecoming of an otherwise very professional piece. I would recommend it to the PhD or Grad students