Low Vision Tips

Macular degeneration is the loss of central vision – it is not blindness but rather low vision. Low vision means that a person’s vision cannot be corrected by prescription glasses or through any medical or surgical intervention. Magnifiers for macular degeneration are meant to make the most of one’s usable vision. Often people want to […]

One of the most common symptoms for those with macular degeneration is the need for more light. The Macular Degeneration Partnership explains why this need occurs.  “As you age, the amount of light entering the eye is reduced, causing a reduction in vision, contrast and color. The type of lighting and its intensity, color and […]

During a recent dinner outing to a favorite restaurant with my father-in-law who has wet macular degeneration, he sheepishly told us he couldn’t see well enough to figure out how to lock the bathroom door.   Just hours before the outing we gave him a flashlight that one wears on the wrist – just like a […]

There is no need to wonder what kind of paper bills are in your wallet anymore thanks to the free EyeNote App.  Developed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for the blind or those with low vision, this app identifies denominations of U.S. paper currency from $1 bills to $100 bills.  Download it for […]

It seems that those with retinal disorders like macular degeneration are very familiar with the need for magnification for close up work – like reading, writing bills, and performing hobbies.  Reading magnifiers are usually the first visual aid obtained by those with low vision.   However, there is less awareness for the need to magnify distance […]

My father-in-law who has wet macular degeneration was recently put on a new prescription medication.   Within 24 hours of starting his new medication he could tell a stark difference in his vision which had become severely blurred.  Thankfully it scared him and he contacted his doctor who instructed my father-in- law to stop taking the […]

Recently I had lunch with my friend who leads a low vision support group and is legally blind from retinitis pigmentosa.  This summer she took a trip to Seattle and for the first time used an Uber driver to take her and her husband from their hotel to a nearby rose garden.   She commented on […]

One of the disadvantages of reading on an e-book reader for those with low vision is the screen size.  Ranging from 6.5 “ x 5” to 9.1″ x 6.2″ the screen size may be too small for those who need the largest font in order to read.   Often a better and cheaper option is to […]

As we climb the years, our eyesight just isn’t what it used to be and some of us experience vision loss faster than others. It’s a rough time when our elders can no longer drive, and increasingly begin to rely on others. July is Senior Independence Month, and although age-related vision loss can create many […]

Our eyes are complicated, and extensive international research unveils constant new facts and information that’ll help us all preserve our vision and protect our eyes from diseases like Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration. Several other health conditions could possibly factor into our vision, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and it’s important to know how […]