For older people, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss and other issues with vision. But because AMD usually doesn’t cause complete blindness, people with the condition often use low-vision aids and other technology to help with basic tasks. That lets them continue to enjoy their quality of life and some independence. Low-vision devices can sometimes offer the kind of assistance that medications or treatments can’t give.
Age-related macular degeneration assistive devices range from magnifiers and special eyeglasses to large-print books, audio materials, and other technology to help make objects appear larger and clearer. If you have AMD, you may also benefit from some low-tech tools and changes to your surroundings that will make it easier and safer to get around, do housework and other chores, and enjoy books and other media.
Some of the more commonly used AMD aids include:
Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses with telescopic lenses or with lenses that greatly improve magnification may be helpful in a variety of situations. But magnifying spectacles have both advantages and disadvantages when used for reading. While they create a larger vision field, the more powerful the lens, the closer you must be to the text, which can lead to poor posture.
Glasses that reduce glare and boost the color contrast in your field of vision also may be helpful. Some glasses can move images to parts of your visual field that have not been lost or greatly affected by AMD. So-called prismatic glasses that include built-in prisms in the lenses can redirect light entering the eye to help reduce the size of the blind spot in your vision. But there is little evidence that prismatic glasses are any more effective than regular reading glasses.
Magnifiers and Other Low-Vision Aids
From simple, old-fashioned magnifying glasses to optical devices hooked up to your computer, magnifiers are among the most helpful low-vision aids for people with AMD. Basic handheld magnifiers are available with lights and other features, such as color contrast and image capture, which allows what you’re looking at to be moved into a better position in your field of vision.
You may also benefit from tabletop magnifiers that are placed in a fixed stand. These are considered easier to use for people who have hand tremors, poor eye-hand coordination, and other physical limitations.
A closed circuit TV (CCTV) magnifier combines your television or computer screen with a camera system. By pointing the CCTV camera at the pages of a book, for example, the words on the page can appear magnified and illuminated on a screen for easier viewing. Reading speed may be faster with an electronic device such as CCTV than it is with a magnifier. Most systems are tabletop or desktop devices, but you can also buy handheld models and head-mounted CCTV systems.
A variety of telescopic aids are also available to help your vision. They include traditional “spy glasses,” as well as smaller telescopes that fit onto eyeglasses and even tiny telescopes that can be implanted in your eye.
Large-Print Materials
Large-print books for people with vision problems have been around for decades. But in this digital age, the options are greater than ever. While print size and the display field on a computer screen or other device need to be magnified, it’s also important that displays are well-lit and give plenty of contrast between the letters and the background.
If you would rather listen or your vision can no longer allow you to read, even with large print and other features, there are many audiobooks for AMD, too.
Walking Canes
The classic white walking cane has been used by visually impaired people for many years. Now, high-tech versions are also on the market. Some canes have ultrasound technology that senses objects before the cane touches them. The device sends vibration through the cane as an alert. This can stop you from running into or getting too close to things. Other smart technology in walking canes can spot something that may be hanging down near you but isn’t close enough to the ground to be touched by the cane.
Appliances
You can get clocks, phones, and TV remotes that have large numbers, contrasting colors, and voice-activated features to make them more useful if you have AMD and other eye conditions. Screen readers on smartphones are among the most helpful features if you have trouble with your vision. Some phones can let you hear what’s on the screen, such as a text message or news article. Others can tell you the name of an app or icon aloud when your finger touches it on the screen.
Apps for vision help provide you with easier-to-read screens, currency scanners that identify the right denominations of money, and other helpful services.
Which Devices Do You Need?
Handheld magnifiers have the advantage of being more affordable and portable than most other assistive devices. But with so many other low-vision aids and other technology available for people with AMD, it can be a little confusing or overwhelming to decide where else to invest your money. And unfortunately, Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurers don’t cover the purchase of these devices, though AMD exams are usually covered.
If you can’t afford the devices you want, some nonprofit groups, such as your local Lions Club, have grants to help cover the purchase of assistive technology, vision rehabilitation, and other helpful services and products.
In some cases, employers must supply assistive devices for workers who have vision problems to comply with rules in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
One of the best ways to learn which devices may be best for you is by taking advantage of vision rehabilitation services, which provide advice and information about low-vision technology and products, plus skills training for jobs and everyday living.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Some questions to ask your doctor about using assistive devices include:
- Which devices would be most useful for everyday tasks, given my specific diagnosis and lifestyle?
- Which devices have your other patients used and found to be helpful or not helpful?
- Would vision rehabilitation help me?
- How can I make changes to lighting, electronic screens, and other parts of my home to help me see better?
Modifying Your Environment
Some devices that make living with AMD a little easier are probably already in your home. For example, a gooseneck lamp aimed squarely at the book or other item in front of you can help you see things more clearly. The same is true for higher-watt bulbs in the other lamps in your home.
When writing notes to yourself or marking a calendar, use bold, felt-tipped markers.
Improving the contrast wherever possible can also help you see things better. This might include colored plates on a white tablecloth or a dark background on your desk to make white papers more visible.
Moving Forward
The variety of devices and technology for people with AMD and technological improvements that are happening all the time are building on an already large group of products to help you use media, safely perform chores and other work, and live with some independence. Talk with your eye health team and organizations that work with people who have vision problems. That will help steer you toward the devices and tools that will be most helpful for you.
