- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Geographic Atrophy
- Appointment Prep
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Tools for Living Well with GA


Technological Advances and Tools
You can change the settings in smartphones, apps, and computer tools to magnify text or enable voice commands.

Smartphone Settings and Accessibility
Options like voiceover and high contrast display help tailor your phone or tablet to your needs.

Identification Apps for Everyday
Use Apps like EyeNote and Seeing AI help identify objects and people, making it easier to recognize faces and handle money.

Navigation Apps for Easy Movement
GPS and navigation tools such as NavCog and BlindSquare provide turn-by-turn directions and describe your surroundings.

Portable and Camera Magnifiers
For help with reading and crafting, you can use magnifying tools including handheld devices and camera systems that project magnified images onto screens.

Telescopic Devices for Distance Viewing
Telescopic lenses can help you see distant objects more clearly and come in various sizes. Some can attach to your glasses.

Audio Tools for Daily Navigation
Tools like speech-to-text and text-to-speech convert spoken words and text. You can also find talking devices like thermometers and clocks.

Effective Use of Lighting
Task lighting and dimmer switches can enhance visibility without glare. Position lights strategically to avoid shadows and improve clarity.

Social Situations and Visibility
Strategies like finding well-lit spots, bringing a buddy, and communicating your vision impairment can help navigate social settings comfortably.
Photo Credits:
1. simona pilolla 2/Shutterstock
2.NikOStudio/Shutterstock
3. Kulniz/Shutterstock
4. Lee Charlie
5. New Africa/Shutterstock
6. Daniel Wiedemann/Shutterstock
7. Reshetnikov_art/Shutterstock
8. Sheeyla/Shutterstock
9. E+/Getty Images
Sam Dahr, MD, director, retina division, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston.
American Academy of Ophthalmology: “30 Apps, Devices and Technologies for People With Vision Impairments.”
American Macular Degeneration Foundation: “Assistive Technology for Age-related Macular Degeneration.”
American Printing House for the Blind (APH), Connect Center, VisionAware: “Coping with Geographic Atrophy, the Advanced Stage of Dry Macular Degeneration,” “What Is Low Vision?”
Hope Vision Foundation: “The 7 Best Apps For People With Low Vision And Blindness.”
Lighthouse Guild: “Apps for Adults with Vision Loss.”Photo Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Kristen Shifflett, licensed occupational therapist and certified low vision therapist with a specialty certification in low vision, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.