When age-related macular degeneration (AMD) changes your vision, it can be harder to do some activities you’ve always enjoyed. Even hobbies that don’t require fine detail vision may need modifying so you can take part safely.
Fortunately, there are many tools and tips available for low-vision living that can help you keep up with the pastimes you love.
Tips for Reading
Luckily, reading with low vision is easier than ever because of the help of modern technology. Most, if not all, books you can get from the library or bookstore are also available as audiobooks and don’t require your vision at all.
Tablets made for reading books digitally come with an option to change the text size. You can increase the size of the words so they’re easier for you to see. You can also zoom in on smart tablets to see photos better or any finer details you may otherwise miss.
If you’re reading an article on a website, you can also highlight the text and have your phone or tablet read it for you out loud with a synthesized voice.
Several services are available for helping people with low vision have access to the information they’d like to read. These include:
Audio Internet Reading Service of Los Angeles (AIRSLA). Based in LA but available for people anywhere, AIRSLA is an internet-based radio station that broadcasts to those who have limited or no vision. Their broadcasts include sections from daily newspapers and magazines, store ads, voter information, vision research news, theater reviews, consumer product information, and much more, all geared to the needs of the print-impaired community.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. This is a free library service for people who have trouble reading regular print materials. To gain access, you have to be a U.S. resident and register with a username and password. Users can also have access to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download), a free website and mobile app where you can download books and magazines directly from the Library of Congress website.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Newsline. This telephone service offers newspaper reading via a toll-free or local number. You don’t need a smartphone – simply use the telephone keypad to listen to articles read from your local paper.
Tips for Crafting and Art
If making art is your passion, decreased central vision due to AMD may be getting in the way. While some challenges will depend on the type of art or crafting you're doing, many of your hurdles can be addressed with these low-vision tips.
Set up for success
No matter which creative outlet you love, you need a space that supports your work. Make sure you have:
Good-quality lighting. Consider getting a lamp with a swivel head you can move to point directly on your workspace. Some lamps even come with built-in magnifiers.
Minimal clutter. As best you can, keep your crafting or art area tidy and put away so it’s easier to tell what you have in front of you. Keep a trash can close by so you can easily toss waste as you make it.
Light/dark contrast. Using a solid color table or tablecloth (versus newspaper print with a busy design, for example) will help you avoid confusion when identifying objects on your work surface. If your materials are mostly dark, use a light-colored surface, and vice versa if your materials are light-colored.
Magnification. Keep a tool for magnification close by, either around your neck or on a stand.
Organization is key
Prep your creative area before you begin so that things are where you expect them to be.
- Get all your materials together and lay them out in order of use.
- Put things back where you got them as you go.
- Use boundaries for your materials so they don’t go far and stay together. Try a cookie sheet or tray with an edge.
- Keep small items such as buttons or beads in containers.
- Label items with raised or extra-large letters for easy identification.
- Use a non-skid liner or masking tape to keep items in place.
Keep track of pins and needles
Sewing, needlepoint, and other work that requires keeping up with pins and needles will go more smoothly if you:
- Tape your needles directly to your workspace.
- Weave needles through fabric and tape to your workspace.
- Weave needles through the shirt you’re wearing.
- Keep a magnet nearby so you can easily gather dropped needles.
You can buy needle-threading devices to help kick off your needlework and more easily handle that hard-to-see step.
Tips for Yard Work
Gardening is a great pastime that gets you outside. While much of what you do can be achieved with feel and low vision, there are certain practices that can help you maximize your enjoyment of your typical plant-based activities.
Use borders. Make sections in your gardening beds with bricks or stones so you know where you’ve planted different plants. Use materials that will contrast with the mulch or soil so you can see them more easily.
Try new plants. You can create a sensory experience with certain plants and enhance your gardening experience. Mint, lemon, lavender, roses, and plants with interesting textures can provide you with new smells and touches.
Label to your liking. Mark your garden with large-print or raised-print signs that you can read.
Landscape wisely. Using materials such as landscaping fabric, mulch, or corrugated cardboard around your plants will reduce the amount of watering you’ll need to do.
Protect yourself
Safe gardening and yard work with low vision is important. These habits will help:
- If you will be mowing the grass, wear long pants and sleeves, sturdy shoes with closed toes, and safety goggles to protect yourself from flying debris. Make sure to mark your lawn with boundary markers to stay oriented to where you’re cutting.
- Use natural or organic fertilizers you can touch without harming yourself.
Wear a tool apron to keep everything you need close by. This reduces the need to get up and move around and risk tripping over materials.
Tips for Physical Activities
Physical activity isn’t just good for the body, it’s good for the mind and soul. Whether you’re a daily walker, avid bowler, or love to swim laps to relax, you can find ways to move safely with low vision.
People who are blind or have low vision can take part in nearly every sport. Sometimes the rules are modified; sometimes you’ll need adaptive techniques. Other times you may need special equipment. Here are a few examples:
Bowling. Both sighted guidance and guide rails can help you continue knocking down pins even when your sight is poor. The American Blind Bowling Association offers tips, tournaments, and guide rails for sale.
Water sports. Your low vision shouldn’t slow you much when it comes to lap swimming or water aerobics. Lane markers will keep you on track for laps. If your pool doesn’t have these, you can buy some for use while you swim. During water aerobics, staying near the edge of the pool may help you better orient to your exercise spot.
Running. Your comfort level will vary depending on how well you can see. A guide or running buddy can help you run safely by either talking to you as you go to guide you around obstacles or by leading you with a tether (a short rope or towel). Be sure to choose someone who can be aware of safety challenges and who can match your pace.
Tandem biking. Yes, non-stationary biking is possible – with a two-seater (tandem) bicycle. A person with typical vision rides in front, and steers. They can call out to you when bumps, obstacles, or turns are coming.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: Westend61/Getty Images
SOURCES:
American Printing House for the Blind: “Reading Apps for Booklovers,” “Setting Up a Craft Area,” “Gardening and Yard Work,” “Bowling if You are Blind or Low Vision,” “Swimming,” “Running if Blind or Low Vision,” “Tandem Bicycling for People Who are Blind or Low Vision.”
Audio Internet Reading Service of Los Angeles: “More Information About AIRSLA.”
National Library Service For the Blind and Print Disabled Library of Congress: “People Who Are Visually Impaired.”
