Improving Quality of Life with Low Vision

Introduction

Vision loss can have a substantial impact on the lives of those who experience it and comes with many challenges. It is common for people to experience a change in vision throughout their life and as we age our vision typically worsens. Glasses and contact lenses can be helpful, but for some with low vision, their condition is not able to be corrected by eyewear.

Some health conditions that affect vision include

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Age-related macular degeneration

Poor vision signs to look out for in a loved one include:

• Bumping into things/knocking objects over
• Misjudging distance of items
• A top in reading/writing
• Squinting to focus

People with vision impairment often experience struggles with normal activities in their daily lives, however having poor eyesight should not interfere with anyone’s quality of life. 

Follow these small steps to help yourself or a loved one overcome the challenges of low vision and improve independence!

Light it up!

Lighting is key when dealing with vision impairment. Keep areas well-lit but be mindful to reduce glare. This includes glare from reflective surfaces which can be eliminated by covering them, when possible. You can also reduce glare from sunlight by adding window coverings or window film.

Specialised bulbs can also be purchased that increase contrast and limit glare; ensure you have the correct lights for tasks such as a book lamp for reading.

Adhesive led lights can be effective for the kitchen, placed under cabinets and inside of cupboards for illuminating objects and work surfaces. Adding automatic night lights around the home would also be useful and save from using switches which may be out of reach.

Go Big!

The bigger the better is true when it comes to vision, since the bigger something is the better we can see it!

There are a wide variety of larger items available to purchase such as remote controls with large buttons, enlarged face watches, telephones, computer keyboards, clocks, scales, timers and large-print products, just to name a few.

For products that are not accessible in a bigger size, opt for a Magnification glass. They can be hand held or up to A4 size to facilitate reading bills and documents.

Use Labels

Utilising labels can make all the difference to people who suffer with daily activities that have become difficult due to a lack of vision.

Using labels with bold contrasting colours can make objects much easier to differentiate, especially labels with black font on a white background and dark blue on yellow or even labels consisting of different shapes.

Labelling items this way can help to clearly identify similar looking objects like coffee, tea and sugar canisters and condiments.

Get Organised

Keeping items organised and in a designated place can considerably help with vision loss. Have a basket for commonly used items like keys and remote controls is useful so they are easily found, and remember to always put them back in the same place to reduce the chance of losing items.

It is harder to see in a cluttered environment so make sure walk ways are always clear from potential tripping hazards.

To see more ways of preventing trips and falls please read our previous article - Handy Steps to Reduce Your Risk of a Fall

Take advantage of Technology

One technological option is to use a virtual assistant with a smart speaker. They work by voice command, so you can ask for updates on the news, weather, make calls and you can also link up the speaker to home devices such as lights. Apps can also be helpful.

'Lookout' is an app which uses computer vision to provide information about your surroundings. The app uses the camera and sensors on your Android device to recognise objects and text, then tells you what it sees.

Audible is an app for listening to the world's best storytelling, there are audiobooks and podcasts to download.

All of these technology options help to make life easier and help to continue enjoying doing the things you love.