Macular degeneration impacts only your central vision—what you see directly in front of you. Your peripheral vision, what you see to the sides, up and down, will likely remain sharp.
To adapt, try repositioning objects to leverage this clearer side vision, a technique sometimes referred to as 'eccentric viewing.' With practice, you can enhance your ability to perform tasks using your peripheral vision and even your other senses.
Here are some helpful ideas to get you started:
With AMD, you may find that spaces start to seem darker. Whether you’re trying to knit, do laundry or chop vegetables, you may find it easier to use your remaining vision when working with good light.
Try these tips:
Increase the light in a room overall or use a lamp while focused on tasks
Place lighting so it shines directly on what you’re trying to do, without shadows or glare
Consider using LED lights. Look for bulbs that are labeled as “warm,” which have less blue tone. People with vision impairment typically do well with these
Try using a light that clips onto a hat or a cap, which is great for shining light wherever you turn your head
Another way to make tasks easier is to create more contrast in the colors of objects.
Get a dark switch-plate or put dark tape around light switches and doorknobs to make them stand out
Arrange brightly colored pillows or a throw blanket to make it easier to see seating
Place strips of colored electrical or duct tape on the edges of steps to prevent falls
Use paint or nail polish in bright or dark colors to create contrast on objects, such as hairbrushes, kitchen items or tools
Get Help from a Voice Assistant and Smart-Home Gadgets
Use technology to help enhance visual accessibility of your home:
Voice assistants can help set alarms and reminders, provide weather updates and news and create and manage grocery lists
Integrating smart home devices can help control lighting with smart bulbs, adjust temperatures with smart thermostats and operate appliances using smart plugs
You can start with the free voice assistant on any smart phone or get a smart speaker for your home
You might think that you’ll have to give up your favorite pastimes as your vision deteriorates. However, you can make adjustments that may help you keep doing what you love for quite some time.
If vision impairment from macular degeneration is getting in the way of enjoying your favorite shows, try these ideas:
Correct any glare on the screen. Close curtains or move the screen away from lights and windows
Adjust the settings. Many televisions have controls brightness and contrast. Try adjusting them to make the picture easier to see
Find your visual sweet spot. You might have stronger vision in one eye or be able to make better use of your peripheral (side) vision. Put your chair at a 45-degree angle to the screen and check if that’s better. Try other angles to find the best one
An adaptive product called a telescoping viewer can help you see what’s on the screen. Ask your eye care professional about these devices
In addition to using good lighting and relying on your peripheral vision, try these adaptations to make reading easier—or to enjoy your books without having to read:
Use a magnifying glass to make words appear larger. Electronic magnifiers can put a larger image on the screen. Ask your eye care professional about these devices
Put a clear yellow sheet on top of the printed page to increase the contrast and see if that makes it easier to see
On a computer, tablet or mobile phone, you can increase the size of the words and images. You can also switch the view to white letters on a black background which may be easier to see
Explore audiobooks. You can access audiobooks for free from the National Library Service
. And your local library may have books available on tape, CD or on pre-recorded devices
Smart speakers can access audiobooks and read them to you—all you have to do is ask
Get a voice recognition program for your computer, tablet or phone that will read written text out loud
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