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Poor vision: hints & coping Jayne Kempster, David Kinshuck, Bruce Fisher |
Contrast |
| Contrast is important to help reading: black print on white paper maximises contrast to make reading as easy as possible. This is shown here |
| print not dark enough | paper
too dark
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maximum contrast |
maximum contrast |
| In the kitchen good lighting and large labels, black on white or white on black, on jars for instance can make cooking easier. |
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Reading with a marker |
The smaller the number of words you need to be see at one time, the easier it is to read. If you hold the marker so only one line of text is visible, then move it down line by line, the words do not get mixed up, and it is easier to read. |
Use a marker to assist reading. |
Writing |
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Writing is similar, with a cut out marker that helps you read only one line to be seen at a time. With cheques and pension books or any other specific document, then a specific cut out template makes writing easier. (Banks supply the cheque book templates.) |
This is a template in plastic for writing cheques.
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Writing with a black felt pen |
When writing yourself, using a black felt pen can make writing much easier to read. This is particularly useful writing shopping lists. |
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Large print bills etc |
| Items such as telephone, electric and gas bills, as well as bank statements, can all be supplied in large print, this may mean that a lower powered magnification can be used. | telephone bill Good Hope Hospital £12,988 Ask for a large print telephone bill. |
Photocopy |
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Tasks such as reading music at a keyboard are not usually helped by optical magnification. The best method is to enlarge the copy. by photocopying: most photocopiers can do this. |
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Large print books |
| Large print books can be very helpful. These can sometimes be read with reading spectacles only, and very often with a lower powered magnifier. This often makes it easier to read in bed for instance. |
There are many large print books available. |
Talking books |
| If this text is too difficult to read talking books or listening to the radio may be the only solution. |
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Talking Microwave cookers |
In the kitchen it is often better to use specially manufactured items, such as talking scales or microwaves when cooking. Magnifiers can be impractical in the kitchen. |
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TV |
| The best way to get an enlarged picture on the TV is to get closer. Sitting close to the television will not damage the eyes |  |
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Binoculars |
When going to the theatre, cinema or even to football matches, then small lightweight binoculars can be very helpful. These are readily available. It is often useful to use some that will focus to 6-8 feet (2 metres) as these are useful in the house. Many patients find binoculars useful when watching sport on TV. |
Lightweight binnoculars, lighter than these, may help at football matches etc |
Butcher's glove |
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These can be very useful for cooking. Wear the glove whilst chopping vegetables...it makes it difficult to cut fingers etc. |
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In summary |
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Macular
damage, whether ARMD or maculopathy from diabetes, will slow down critical
visual tasks, but with adequate magnification, good lighting and practice,
it should be possible to slowly do most everyday tasks. |
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Links |
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| This site | |
| elswhere | |
| some facts, USA, | |
| support, USA | |
| more facts, UK | |
| support, UK |
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----------------------Eye pages website feedback -----this page edited March 2008---------------------- |
