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Good Hope Hospital Eye Clinic

Poor vision: hints & coping
Jayne Kempster, David Kinshuck, Bruce Fisher

Low vision & Macula Disease

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  
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.

wpe41.gif (2260 bytes)


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.

wpe34.gif (4211 bytes)

Use a marker to assist reading.

 


Writing

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.)

wpe35.gif (1517 bytes)

This is a template in plastic for writing cheques.

 


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.

wpe21.gif (2149 bytes)

 


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
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.

photocopy to enlarge music to play the piano


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.

Puzzles

large print books

There are many large print books available.

large print puzzles

 


Talking books

If this text is too difficult to read talking books or listening to the radio may be the only solution. RNIB Talking books.

Most public libraries and local authorities can arrange a Talking Book service in the UK

 

 


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.  

 


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 wpe39.gif (2616 bytes) wpe3A.gif (2591 bytes)

 


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 help at football matches

Lightweight binnoculars, lighter than these, may help at football matches etc

 


Butcher's glove

These can be very useful for cooking. Wear the glove whilst chopping vegetables...it makes it difficult to cut fingers etc.

www.askthemeatman.com

Butcher's glove

 


Satellite navigation

New GPS systems are expensive but provide fantastic help for those wanting to get around town.

GPS navigation, helps finding your way around town

 


Hemianopia

Eye 2012

  • visual search training may help
  • advice from the low vision team needed
  • hemianopia generally disqualifies driving
  • eligible for partial sight registration/ sight impairment registration

 

 


In summary
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.
 

 


Links
This site
elsewhere  
some facts, USA,
support, USA

Macula Degeneration Support Website

more facts, UK

Royal National Institute for the Blind

support, UK
  • www.rnib.org.uk
  • http://www.maculardisease.org
  • [email protected]
    The Macular Disease Society
    PO Box 1870
    Andover
    SP10 9AD
    Tel: 01264 350551

The address of this site ('org' changing to 'nhs') is changing from http://www.goodhope.org.uk/departments/eyedept/ to http://www.goodhope.nhs.uk/departments/eyedept/
Eye website feedback -- Heartlands -- page edited October 2011 -- Public transport to Good Hope --