If you have poor vision or reduced vision due to diseases such as nearsightedness, cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration, you are well aware of the difficulties that this situation presents. These can range from mild (needing spectacles to read or drive) to severe (losing your independence or being unable to properly see a loved one's face). As a result, it's no surprise that more severe visual impairment is linked to a higher incidence of depression in persons of all ages. This type of stimulation generates neural changes over time, and those changes have a greater influence on behaviour than we previously realized.
Accessibility features and specific vision rehabilitation programs are widely accessible and can assist you in dealing with stressful situations and learning to adjust activities to get through each day.
Even modest measures, such as the ones listed below, might make life easier when you suffer visual loss.
Certain functions on a computer or smartphone can be quite handy.
You may use your computer or phone to magnify fonts, zoom in on a photo, or have your papers read to you.
However, setting up such features may need some technical expertise — or at the very least the patience to search up methods to activate the features and work your way through them. Your computer, for example, may include an accessibility function that reads aloud highlighted text.
Reconsider your driving habits.
For those with any level of visual impairment, driving may be quite challenging.
"Allow a friend or family member to drive you at night, or arrange your day appropriately to take slower streets and avoid the highway, lots of traffic, and approaching lights that might create glare," says one driver.
Adapt your living space
You could find it beneficial to make modifications in your home.
Objects should be labelled. Drawers, books, phones, appliances, condiment bottles, and everything else that has to be identified should be labelled. Labels should have a big font and strong contrast to make them simpler to read.
Numbers and letters are blown up to enormous proportions. Replace your old home phone with one that has extra-large buttons, or invest in a blood pressure cuff that has extra-large digits on the screen. Books, scales, thermometers, computer keyboards, thermostats, clocks, pedometers, TV remotes, calculators, and watches are among the other objects featuring extra-large numerals or letters.
Increase the number of lights. The importance of lighting in eyesight cannot be overstated. To illuminate your route, you might wish to install automated night lights throughout your home. It may also be beneficial to add some more lights or light fixtures to a certain space. Assessing the placement of light can aid in improving reading abilities. A gooseneck lamp with an adjustable neck is a great choice, but make sure the bulb isn't facing you.
