Johns Hopkins Health Alert
How To Live Better With Low Vision
- 7 practical strategies to help visually impaired patients maintain their independence
Mild vision impairment has little effect on day-to-day activities, but moderate to severe impairment from a condition such as glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration can make it difficult for people to perform common household tasks. Ophthalmologists and low-vision counselors recommend these simple, practical strategies to help patients with low vision maintain their independence.
- Always leave doors completely open or completely closed. This reduces the risk of accidentally walking into the door edge if you have low vision.
- Tack down loose rugs—and use nonslip mats beneath them. Or use furniture to hold rugs down to prevent slipping and tripping.
- Tape a colorful piece of paper to all clear glass doors. If you have low vision, this will help you determine whether the door is open or closed and prevent collisions.
- Avoid using glass-topped coffee or end tables. The edges are extremely difficult to see, making bumping injuries more likely if you have low vision.
- Mark the important settings on the dials of the stove, washer, dryer and other appliances using brightly colored tape.
- Mark the outer edge of all indoor and outdoor stairs. Use a strip of paint or non-skid material in a color that contrasts with the rest of the step. The strip should extend about 2 inches from the edge—both horizontally and vertically—and should go across the full width of the step. This reduces the chances of tripping or falling on the stairs if you have low vision.
- Have someone help you arrange clothing if you have color-vision problems. Separate items according to color and then use labeled dividers to identify them.
Posted in Vision on June 15, 2006
Reviewed June 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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I have the diabetic problem and in fact through my eyes I found out I was a diabetic 2--- my problem is weird I guess to the real world in that what I am typing right now is hard for me to see because it's light print on a white background. I can see anything any one wants to show me-- but I cannot read the eye chart past 20/50 in my right eye and the top letter E with my left eye. It's amazing to me that I can see perfectly fine, just can't read light colored letters w/o a fount of about 12. Yet each time I go in for a check up I have to have a 20/50 in order to drive and every time I took the drivers test the testers told me that the doctors must be ill because I can read the speed limit signs and most signs just not as far back as most people. Why is it that eye tests only depent on reading letters or numbers? Seems rather silly to me-- because I have no problems with driving and see perfectly well-- no cloudy vision just low vision for light colored letters on an eye chart.
Posted by: QED111 | April 28, 2007 8:56 PM