Glaucoma: Living with reduced vision
What measures can I take at home to help me adapt to living with reduced vision?
There are many low-vision accommodations you can make in your home to make living with reduced vision easier and safer. Vision rehabilitation and training specialists can help you identify and learn to make reduced-vision accommodations that will work for you. These are some suggestions.
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 reduced vision, you may need more light to be able to distinguish objects with similar brightness or color (low contrast).
- 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, making them easier to identify.
- You can also 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.
Low-vision aids
Low-vision aids are special lenses or electronic systems that make images appear larger. They may include:
- Magnifying lenses. These may range from simple handheld lenses for reading to special eyeglasses or magnifiers much like the lenses that jewelers use. Some magnifying lenses have a built-in light for better illumination, and some are mounted on stands so your hands are free. For distance vision, small handheld telescopes or lenses that clip onto your eyeglasses may be used.
- Video enlargement systems. These are electronic systems that include a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) or video camera that can be used to transmit an enlarged image of print, pictures, or other items onto a screen where it is easier for you to see. These systems can also sometimes adjust brightness and contrast to make the enlarged image easier to see. Some video systems have both the camera and screens built into a head-mounted device that looks like a pair of large goggles, allowing a person to move around while using them.
- Computer display and enlargement systems. Large screens and software that enlarge print, pictures, and other visual information are available. Computers also allow you to alter brightness, contrast, color, and other parts of the display to make it easier to see what is on the screen. Computers are sometimes used with video enlargement systems.
Adaptive technology
Adaptive technology is used in devices or products that may not necessarily help you see better but can make life easier and safer. Many are designed to help you perform common tasks that may be more difficult when you have reduced vision. Examples of adaptive technology include:
- Large-print items. Books, newspapers, magazines, medicine labels, bank checks, and playing cards are often available in large print. Many people with low vision also use recordings of books and other printed materials.
- Special papers and writing aids. These may be something as simple as paper with extra-bold lines that help you write information on checks in the proper spaces.
- Adaptive appliances. These are common household items that have been adapted for use by people with low vision, such as clocks and watches with electronic voices that announce the time, or clocks, telephones, and calculators with extra-large buttons and numerals that can be seen more easily. Kitchen appliances with similar features, such as ovens, are also available.
- Speech software for computer systems. Special software allows computers to recognize spoken commands or convert dictated speech into text. Speech synthesis software allows computers to speak text and read documents.
- Optical character recognition (OCR) software. OCR systems allow you to scan documents and convert them into computer text that can be enlarged for display or read aloud by a speech synthesis program.
Test Your Knowledge
Using contrast can help make identifying light switches, outlets, and doorways easier.
Adaptive technology can improve my vision.
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Why is it important to make accommodations and learn to use vision aids and other adaptive technologies?
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| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: May 23, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology | |
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