Visual Aids for Macular Degeneration
by Deb Braun
(Midlothian, VA)
I have a client that is 85 and was diagnosed with wet/dry macular degeneration 2 years ago.
She has no visual aids to help her and hasn't much money - is there any way to find out how I can get her a magnifying screen or something to help her so she can stay at home?
Answer
Hi Deb,
This is a tough question. Medicare usually pays for low vision rehab, but not for low vision aids or equipment. However you can try contacting these organizations:
1. Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired
of Virginia
According to their website they provide:
"Low vision examinations, intended to improve useful vision to persons of all ages who cannot see with conventional glasses, are available by appointment. Preliminary assessment, and follow-up counseling and training programs in the home or school setting are aimed at ensuring that maximum benefit is gained from the low vision optical aids prescribed. Examiners are strategically located throughout Virginia. Referrals are made by various programs of the agency and other interested sources."
For further information, please send e-mail to:Marge.Owens@dbvi.virginia.gov.
2. Lions Club International
A local Lions club in your community may sponsor a program that provides assistance for the purchase of eyeglasses, hearing aids, health-related services, scholarships or educational needs.
Contact them by calling 630-571-5466 or you can go to the their website at www.lionsclub.org and go to Find a Club to find a club in your community.
Hope this helps.
Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
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Visual Aids for Macular Degeneration - Canada
by Hildegarde
(Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Do you know if there are any magnifying lamps (or other visual aids for macular degeneration) for sale in Calgary, Alberta?
Answer
Hello Hildegarde,
Are you aware of the CNIB in Canada? They offer many services locally to those with vision problems like macular degeneration. They have a webstore or you can ask for a free catalogue to order magnifying lamps or other visual aids.
Here is the link:
CNIB Catalogue
They also provide some great classes and support at their office in Calgary. For example they offer computer classes to teach you how to use magnifying software like Zoomtext. To see if any of these services interest you click here:
CNIB Alberta Programs and Services
Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
To learn more about vision aids for macular degeneration click here:
Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration
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Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration
by Susan
(United States)
I have an elderly friend who has macular degeneration and is also a full time caregiver for her husband.
I am trying to find out what products are available to help her see the TV, thermostat, oven controls, etc.. better.
Would any of this be covered by Medicare?
They do not have any family nearby and I am 300 miles away from them.
REPLY
Hi Susan,
There is no one magnifier or vision aid that works for all the different tasks. The best way to help your friend is to identify each task she would like help with and then find the corresponding visual aid for it. For instance she needs help reading and seeing her oven controls. Then she could use a spot of bright red nail polish on the 350 degree mark to help her see it and adjust her temperature from there. Large numbered measuring cups and spoons make cooking easier as well. Here are more ideas to help your friend in the kitchen.
Cooking Low Vision Aids
Then identify the next task she needs help with and again find a corresponding visual aid to help her. For a list of different categories of vision aids for macular degeneration:
Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration
Kind Regards,
Leslie
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Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration - Microwave Stickers
by Joy
(Pa)
Where can I purchase the numbers and letters for the microwave?
REPLY
Hi Joy,
You can purchase them from MaxiAids.
Large Print Microwave Stickers
Kind Regards,
Leslie
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Wall Mounted Magnifying Mirror
by Claudia
(Canada)
Do you carry wall mounted mirrors in 15x or 20x in chrome or brush nickle.
Thank you
REPLY
Hi Claudia,
Thanks for your e-mail. Just to clarify, I do not carry any magnifiers but rather provide links to companies that do - Amazon being one of them.
As a reminder to all of the readers a small commission is sent to WebRN-MacuacularDegeneration.com each time you buy from one of our resources (like Amazon) when you have gone to their site by clicking on one of the links.
(Please realize this helps us to be able to continue this website by offering you free articles, answers to questions and what we hope is useful information. Thank you for your support.)
That said I did find a nickel wall mounted magnifying mirror at Amazon. It has 10x magnification with a spot magnification of 15x. Here is a link to the mirror:
Jerdon JP7510N 8" Makeup Wall Mount Mirror, Nickel, 10X Optics, 15X Spot
Kind Regards,
Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
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Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration
by Susan
(United States)
My mother has advanced macular degeneration. I am looking into visual aid info for her and am planning on taking her to a low vision specialist, yet it seems that aids all focus on magnification.
She can see very fine print, and in fact that is easier for her. She can, however, only see that in the periphery.
Can you address low vision aids for this and advise what we should be looking for? Thank you.
REPLY
Hello Susan,
It sounds like your mother has learned to maximize the use of her peripheral vision and is using what is called eccentric viewing.
Eccentric viewing has been described by some low vision specialists as the most important vision aid for someone with macular degeneration.
To find helpful visual aids for your mom she needs to first identify the task that she needs help with. Is it dialing the phone, telling time, reading a menu, or writing a bill?
Once the task is identified, then it is easier to find a vision aid to help with that task. There are many talking vision aids or ones that use touch to assist with a task. To learn more about vision aids for macular degeneration click here:
Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration
Kind Regards,
Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
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Visual Aids for Macular Degeneration
by Hanis
(Malaysia)
I was diagnosed as non perfusion retinal vasculitis and I have problems with my central vision - both eyes. Looks like wet AMD.
I'm still studying what is the best visual aids for me.
Answer
Hello Hanis,
Thanks for your question. The best way to figure out what visual aids will be most helpful to you is to visit a low vision clinic. Ask your eye doctor for a referral to one. The low vision specialist can make an assessment and recommendations.
For general information on visual aids for macular degeneration you can visit this page:
Visual Aids for Macular Degeneration
Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
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Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration
by Simone
(New Hampshire)
My mother has wet macular degeneration and you have so much information they can learn from.
She is struggling at this time finding the appropriate magnifier for her needs, i.e. reading medicine bottles, seeing the computer keyboard, seeing her HDTV.
I live in NH and my parents in FL - we do not know how to navigate the resources to locate what is available for them and near them. I'm imagining a store for people to come in and try various devices, magnifiers, TV and computer screens.
I can do the shopping around for them but don't know best place to go. My parents live in Port St. Lucie, FL. I am grateful for any assistance and information you can provide us.
Is there a business that sells items to help in the kitchen, i.e. padded dots, neon strips, etc. Thank you so much for kindness and helpfulness.
REPLY
Hi Simone,
Yes, you are so right. It would be best to bring your mom to a low vision store where they can recommend the best macular degeneration aids for her.
America Macular Degeneration Foundation website has a nice list of low vision centers for Florida.
Low Vision Centers in Florida
Kind Regards,
Leslie
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Macular Degeneration Glasses
by Lawrence
(Nigeria)
MY SIGHT ACCORDING TO THE DR IS 6/60 AND GLASSES ONLY IMPROVED IT TO LESS THAN 18/60 because of macular pigmentation in both eyes.
WHAT SPECIAL GLASSES CAN I USE I AM A 25 YRS OLD STUDENT OF THE NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL.
Please HELP ME ITS DETERIORATING I HAVE BEEN USING VITAMIN A ANTI OXIDANTS
REPLY
Dear Lawrence,
Thanks for your question. While there are no magic macular degeneration glasses that can improve your vision, there are many reading aids and magnifiers that can help those with low vision to read.
To learn some tips on what you can do to help you read easier please go to:
Low Vision Reading
Kind Regards,
Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
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Macular Degeneration Glasses
by Mary
(United States)
The newsletter is always of interest - I appreciate it. has there been any further development of the glasses with LED lights in the frames?
Best wishes
REPLY
Hi Mary,
That's a good question. The original release of these glasses called, Low Vision Readers, was suppose to be the summer of 2010.
The latest status states:
"We are excited to announce that development of the new Low Vision Reader eyeglasses is progressing well. In an effort to release the best possible product to improve the lifestyle and freedom of our low vision customers, LVR continues to refine its design and is now adding even further improvements based on recent research and development.
We anticipate releasing the product in the coming months and will continue to provide you with updates as the arrival date draws near."
For other readers, if you'd like to know more about these reading glasses that will be available without a prescription and more affordable than a standard set of bifocals go to:
Magnifying Reading Glasses
Kind Regards,
Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
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