Home > Health & Wellness > Health Library > Vision Problems: Living With Poor Eyesight
You don't see as well as you used to. Eye problems such as age-related macular degeneration
(AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, or diabetic retinopathy may be making it hard to work and manage many of your daily activities. But don't give up. There are lots of things you can do to adapt to low vision and make your life easier and
To keep doing the things you enjoy, you
will want to make a few changes to your lifestyle. The changes you need to make
depend on how much vision you have lost, what kinds of activities you like to
do, and your current lifestyle. Making changes may seem difficult and time-consuming, but be patient. You can keep your independence and continue the activities you
changes can help you use your remaining vision to its full potential and allow
you to live as independently as possible. Here are some keys to success.
These are a few ideas on how to make living with low
vision easier and safer. For more ideas, see a low-vision rehabilitation specialist.
Contrast helps your eyes to distinguish objects and their surroundings based on differences in
brightness or color, rather than shape or location. If you have low vision, you
may need more light to be able to distinguish objects with similar brightness
or color (low contrast).
Learning to use low-vision aids and adaptive technologies may help you make the best use of your remaining vision.
Low-vision aids are special lenses
or electronic systems that make images appear larger, such as:
If your low vision is caused by diabetes, some aids that may help you include:
Adaptive technology is used in
devices or products that may not help you see better but can make
life easier and safer. Many are designed to help you perform common tasks that
may be harder when you have impaired vision. Examples include:
Some of these measures are easy to build into your
life. Others require big changes in the way that you do things at home,
at work, or elsewhere. Some measures, such as computer programs or electronic systems, can be costly or may take time to learn
to use properly. You will need to decide which ones will work best for you. If
you are legally blind, you may be able to get help through your state's
Commission for the Blind.
It's important to stay active for your health. But first ask your doctor what physical activities are safe for you to do. If you bend, lift things, or move fast, it may affect your health or vision. After you know whether or not you need to avoid any activities, find some things that you like to do and make them as safe as possible. For example:
Having low vision can lead to losing your ability to drive. It's hard to give up the convenience of going where you want whenever you want. But you don't have to be homebound. You have options for getting around safely.
There are many resources to help you meet the
challenges of living with reduced vision and keep your quality of
Look for low-vision specialists and groups and agencies that offer counseling,
training, and other special services related to vision loss.
Low-vision rehabilitation specialists can give you detailed practical
information and training on managing your household and other activities of
daily life that can be more challenging when you have low vision. These
specialists can also help you find ways to cope with low vision in the
workplace. Specialists may include:
many resources available to help you overcome the challenges of living with low
vision, to make the best use of the vision you do have, and to keep your
quality of life. Your family and friends, as well as your health care and social
services professionals, can help you.
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerKathleen Romito, MD - Family MedicineE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal MedicineAdam Husney, MD - Family MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerChristopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Current as ofMay 23, 2016
Current as of:
May 23, 2016
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
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