Macular Degeneration: Coping With Reduced Vision

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Introduction

Key points

Reduced central vision from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) makes it difficult to work and manage many of the activities of daily life. Learning to adapt to low vision can make your life easier and safer.

• You can adapt your home to help with low vision by making changes to lighting, using contrast in objects that you use often and in structures such as door frames and light switches, labeling and marking medicines and food, and getting rid of potential hazards.
• Visual aids and adaptive technologies such as magnifying lenses, special video cameras to enlarge pictures or print, large-print books and newspapers, and adaptive appliances can help you work, communicate, and travel.
• Counseling, rehabilitation, and training can help you with managing your household, cooking, shopping, personal grooming, and other aspects of daily home and work life that can be challenging to a person who has low vision.
• Developing a personal support network can help you maintain your quality of life and deal with the fear and anxiety that can result from having an ongoing (chronic) illness.

 What measures can I take at home to help me adapt to living with reduced vision?

 Why is it important to make changes and learn to use vision aids and other adaptive technologies?

 How can counseling and training help me cope with reduced vision?

 Where to go from here

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Last updated:	August 13, 2007
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC