Mom has lost most of her vision in one eye due to Corneal tear about a year ago. Since than she has not been happy with her new glasses, but has trouble explaining what it is, just they are not working. She also can no longer read well and it is not enjoyable, too much work. She can read words just fine as well as signs.
We are using Large Print books, large print on Kindle, bright lighting, all to no avail.
Wondering if this could be something in the brain instead of the vision? At a loss as to how to help her. She shows signs of early dementia (several years now and progressing) but refuses to go for tests.
Any ideas or similar stories?
Can she follow the plot of a TV show? Does she listen to audiobooks and enjoy those?
The best way to determine whether or not there's a vision blockage is through eye exams. And if the glasses aren't working, take them to her optometrist or ophthalmologist and have them checked for prescription accuracy. Perhaps they weren't filled property by whoever filled the script.
I agree with cwillie--My Mom found that learning to function with limited vision was difficult and time-consuming and that it sucked all of the joy out of attempting to read.
The main reason that I lived with Mom was to assist her with reading bills, writing checks, and managing the farmland AND taking Mom to doctor appointments, church and visiting friends. Mom had to sit at an angle and use her peripheral vision to watch TV. Basically I became Mom's eyes and ears (and secretary) so that she could live in her own home for 9+ years until she got so depressed that she refused to perform any ADLs and needed more assistance than what I could provide at home.
Unfortunately Mom's vision was not ever going to get better--and she knew that--but it did not stop her from complaining about not being able to read or watch TV. I provided emotional support and just kept trying different magifying glasses just to show Mom that I cared and that I was willing to "try anything" to help her see better.
I had a Macular Hole about 18 months ago. I should say I was diagnosed with it. I had not noticed a problem with my vision until one day the Guide on the TV looked odd. Anyway long story short the Macular Hole was repaired and that particular surgery causes a cataract so that was corrected about 6 months after the initial surgery. I have had my eyes examined, I have new glasses but they just do not seem "right" and I can not explain it. I used to enjoy reading no longer....
Have you considered Audio Books? Would she enjoy those?
So in your moms case it could be vision. It could be that she is having difficulty processing the words. When she does read does she comprehend the words. Being able to read and say a word does not necessarily mean she can comprehend it.
For me I almost do not know how to describe it. Exhausting might be a word but it is not just that, it is not knowing why the glasses are not "right" I fool with them I move them up my nose, down, a bit in a bit out I have trifocals and I try to look through each to see if it is any better and it just isn't.
And I was never a fan of audio books because the person that reads the book never seems to be the voice that I would hear in my head as I was reading if that makes any sense. But Audio books is better than nothing.
Please tell your mom at least 1 person understands what she is talking about!
With all of Mom's problems the traditional way of prescribing glasses won't work. She will need separate reading glasses, and the prescription can't be generated by an autorefractor. If there is no one close enough try covd.org or oepf.org. These sites all have "find a doctor" links. They won't have the same level of expertise but they will understand how to use optics for most benefit and how visual processing plays a part.
So, to answer your question - yes, it could be her "brain" rather than her eyes.
As an example, my father had a stroke which resulted in the loss of vision in one eye. The "eye" was working fine, but the "brain" was not receiving the information from the eye because the stroke had damaged the optic nerve - so he was permanently blind in that eye.
If she still has problems, ask her usual medical doctor for a neurologist consult. She may have a problem area in her brain dealing with reading: difficulty recognizing symbols, difficulty verbalizing what symbols stand for, or difficulty understanding context when you string symbols together.
I am going alone to talk to the ophthalmologists Mom sees, to see if they have recommendations. I am with her at appointments but have not 'gone behind her back' so far. I bet they do not say anything because of the stigma and reactions they get "interfering" if they suggest neurological.
Time to go outside the box!