know a smaller screen is much sharper than a big screen? When viewing
a TV up close, anyone can notice that a small TV (like a 13" or
14") is much sharper than a larger screen. Before you go out and
buy a large screen TV, go to the local TV retailer and look at all the
different sizes, and see what is best for you. Make sure the screen
is at eye level if you can. With more recent developments, the LCD TV
(liquid crystal display) is more relaxing for the eye, because of almost
inexistant glare and flicker as in a standard CRT TV (cathode ray tube).
with macular degeneration, or persons with a large central blind spot,
there are a few tricks you can use to see the TV even better.
If you have one eye better than another, turn your chair on a 45-degree
angle toward your better eye, so you are not facing the screen directly,
but toward your better eye.
trick when up close to the TV is to look up above the screen slightly,
and notice the picture as you do this. It may take a bit of practice,
but placing your blind spot above what you want to see is often better
than looking directly at something - and this includes the TV picture,
as well as seeing faces or looking at an object.
thing to consider is the glare in the room when watching TV. Light from
windows, doors or lamps can often reflect onto the screen, causing you
not to see as well. Sometimes placement of the TV away from windows
or not directly across from windows, doors or lamps helps tremendously.
Finally, notice the angle at which you are looking at the screen - are
you looking down, or at eye level? Often if your TV is very low, it
can be hard to see when compared to straight on viewing.
Having the screen just several inches below eye level is ideal. Dont
ever put the screen up above your eye level as this angle can not only
hurt your neck, but may dry out your eyes.
to relax. Be aware of your neck, shoulders and back when watching TV
and make sure the chair is supporting you and there are no muscles being
strained. If these suggestions do not work in helping you watch TV,
a specialist in low vision aids or devices may be able to guide you
in finding a device to help.