Living With Low Vision

When there is a loss of vision, the natural tendency is to want to restore what’s been lost through better prescription glasses, higher magnification, or improved lighting.  All of these strategies are certainly helpful for seeing better but they are not the only strategy for maintaining independence for those with low vision.  My father-in-law has […]

When vision is diminished and the ability to see and read fine print or the ability to perform daily tasks becomes challenging use touch instead of sight.  Peggy R. Wolfe has had wet macular degeneration for many years and shares her insights in her book Vision Loss, Strategies for Living with Hope and Independence.  She […]

Glare, bright lights and light sensitivity is a common symptom for those with retinal diseases.  Terri Cyr, OD and author of Insight Into Low Vision writes,“Because of the way light sensitive neurons in our visual system are wired, those with retinal diseases may find the sunshine or bright lights exceedingly bright and have difficulty adapting […]

One of the most common symptoms for those with macular degeneration is the need for more light. The Macular Degeneration Partnership explains why this need occurs.  “As you age, the amount of light entering the eye is reduced, causing a reduction in vision, contrast and color. The type of lighting and its intensity, color and […]

The more I research and learn about the health benefits of spinach, the more convinced I am that this eye healthy vegetable needs to not only be included in my diet, it needs to party of my daily diet and yours as well. What makes spinach such an eye vitamin powerhouse?   Age Related Macular […]

There are vastly differing opinions in the world, some opinions are better than bubblegum toothpaste while others are so bad they should be arrested. Just as there are differing impairments in the blind and low vision world, there rest these differing opinions. Some, of which, attempt to speak for all other visually impaired people. They write with […]

During a recent dinner outing to a favorite restaurant with my father-in-law who has wet macular degeneration, he sheepishly told us he couldn’t see well enough to figure out how to lock the bathroom door.   Just hours before the outing we gave him a flashlight that one wears on the wrist – just like a […]

While AMD robs patients of their vision, it doesn’t need to rob patients of their independence or their joy in participating in their favorite hobbies.   How one lives successfully with AMD or any other low vision condition depends on how willing one is to try to do the things they enjoy, but to do them […]

For years, blind and visually impaired people who wanted to use a kindle were left with a lot of frustration and even hassle. Amazon released their kindle readers with only the barest of text to speech. Amazon did make their apps on IOS and Android accessible but only after significant push back from the visually […]

The Macular Degeneration Association (MDA) issued an urgent warning in March of 2016 to those who have been diagnosed with intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The warning advised patients to talk with their eye doctor about commonly prescribed eye vitamins using the Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formula containing zinc, which upon further […]