Macular degeneration: Coping with reduced vision
What measures can I take at home to help me adapt to living with reduced vision?
There are many changes that you can make in your home to make living with low vision easier and safer. Vision rehabilitation and training specialists can help you identify and learn to make low-vision adjustments that will work for you. These are some suggestions.
Changing your lighting
- Position lighting so that it is aimed at what you want to see and away from your eyes.
- Add table and floor lamps in areas where extra lighting is frequently needed.
- Use window coverings that allow you to adjust the level of natural lighting.
- Make sure that areas that could be dangerous, such as entries and stairways, are well lit.
Using contrast
Contrast makes use of your eyes' ability to distinguish objects and their surroundings based on differences in brightness or color, rather than shape or location. If you have low vision, you may need more light to be able to distinguish objects with similar brightness or color (low-contrast objects).
- Place light objects against dark backgrounds or dark objects against a light background. For example, if you have white or light-colored walls, use dark switch plates to mark the location of light switches. You can also use lighted switches that glow softly to make them easier to identify.
- Use paint in a contrasting color to mark electrical outlets, oven dials, thermostats, and other items so that they are easier to find and use.
- Paint door frames in a contrasting color; if the door is light, paint the frame with a dark color. Use dark doorknobs on light-colored doors.
- In your bathroom, use contrasting color for items such as cups, soap dishes, and even the soap.
Labeling and marking
- Use high contrast, such as bold black lettering on a white background, when making labels, signs, and other markings. Post signs at eye level.
- Label any medicines you take so that they are easily and clearly identified. Use colored, high-contrast labels to "color code" medicines, spices, foods, and other items.
- Mark the positions of the temperature settings that you use the most on your stove and oven controls, as well as the "on" and "off" positions. Some appliances are available with extra-large, high-contrast markings and indicators.
- In the kitchen and bathroom, mark the settings for the faucets that provide the right water temperature. To prevent overfilling a sink or bathtub, mark the water level that you want with a strip of waterproof tape or waterproof marker.
- Mark the areas around stairways and ramps with paint or tape, preferably with a high-contrast color such as dark tape on light carpeting.
Avoiding potential hazards
- Replace or remove any worn carpeting or floor coverings. If you use throw rugs or area rugs, tape them down or remove them.
- Avoid smooth floor coverings, and do not wax kitchen and bathroom floors. Use nonskid, nonglare cleaners on smooth floors.
- Remove electrical cords from areas where you need to walk. If this is not possible, tape them down so that you will not trip over them.
- Arrange your furniture so that it does not stick out into areas where you need to walk. Keep chairs pushed in under tables and desks when not in use. Similarly, keep desk, cabinet, and bureau drawers closed.
- Keep doors either fully opened or fully closed, but not halfway. Keep doors that stick out into a room or hallway closed.
- Make sure that the handrails on stairways and ramps extend beyond the top and bottom steps, because people often stumble when they miss a step at the top or bottom of an incline. Consider installing handrails in other areas that could be dangerous.
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| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: August 13, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology | |
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