How to Live with Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the progressive deterioration of the small central area of the retina. The center field of vision becomes blurred, making it increasingly difficult to drive, read or recognize faces. Even though your vision is failing, you can make the best use of the eyesight you have remaining.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Employ various aids. Individuals with visual impairments can use large print publications, computer software programs designed to enlarge print on a monitor screen and line guides that help you to write more legibly. Most banks now even offer large, bold print checks for those with vision problems.

2. Schedule an appointment with your eye care specialist to be certain that your eyeglass prescription is the most appropriate for your current condition.

3. Consider special reading glasses and hand held magnifiers, which can help to improve your close range vision for reading. Binocular glasses for distance vision can be used to watch television. There also are filter lenses available to help dim bright sunlight or enhance darkened conditions by controlling the amount of light that enters the eye.

4. Shop for large number clocks, large print computer keyboards and telephones with outsized numbers on a lighted keypad. Some appliances can be ordered with outsized number displays.

5. Maintain proper lighting throughout your home. The intensity of lighting can affect a person’s vision, as either too much or too little light can create problems for people with macular degeneration.

Tips & Warnings

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs in more than 30% of individuals over the age of 75. However, there are treatment options available, which can delay progression of the condition.
• Older individuals often experience an increased sensitivity to glare caused by sunlight or different sources of artificial light.