Top 3 Low Tech Aids for Macular Degeneration

While there are many great high tech aids for those with macular degeneration, such as electronic magnifiers, speech to text converters, iPads, and talking cell phones, there are many low tech aids that also provide independence for those with macular degeneration.

Talking Gadgets

One of my father-in-law's favorite low tech gadgets is his talking wrist watch. He has wet macular degeneration, and seeing the time on his watch wasn't working for him anymore. With the press of a button he can hear the time and because it is a solar powered watch he doesn't have to worry about getting the battery changed out every year.

There are several lessons to be learned from this simple example. One is, each time someone with macular degeneration gives up a hobby or a task that they normally performed, there is a sense of defeat or discouragement. Many times patients with AMD can continue hobbies or tasks, but they may need to do them differently or with the help of a vision aid.

A lot of frustration can be reduced by simply providing a person with a talking gadget - such as a talking watch, a talking alarm clock, a talking scale or a talking microwave.

Large Print

Another top low tech aid is one that provides large print such as large print checks, large print calendars, or large print books. Combine large print with a magnifier and focused light for even better visibility.

Other products available in large print are large print crossword puzzles, large print games, and large number playing cards.

Large Buttons

The third easy to use visual aid is one that provides large buttons - large number and large button phones or TV remotes are easy to see, easy to use and inexpensive.

Once we found this large button phone with numbers that light up, my father-in-law started calling us more often.

Find out about these and other low tech visual aids to make your life easier:

Visual Aids for Macular Degeneration to Help with Independence

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Better Health for Better Vision

www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com

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