To help people with low vision remain as self-sufficient as possible, try using some of these independent living aids. There are countless ways to compensate for low vision when trying to set the temperature on the oven, match clothing, or determine the contents of a container. Two main types of living aid systems are tactile and visual.
Tactile systems are helpful for those with limited or no vision, or for those whose visual ability changes from day to day. Examples of tactile aids are:
- Rubber bands placed around objects to distinguish them from other things, such as a rubber band placed around the juice container to tell it apart from the milk container. Rubber bands can also be placed around a pill bottle to help with taking medication; two rubber bands around a twice-daily pill can be removed one by one as the pill is taken.
- Felt or raised plastic dots or sandpaper cutouts used to mark things, such as the most common temperature used on the oven or set on the thermostat.
Visual systems make use of any remaining vision to identify and organize things. These may include:
- Labels made of white index cards with large print using a dark-colored, bold tip pen to identify things such as clothing, DVDs or tapes.
- Colored stickers or tapes to distinguish objects. For example, canned soups labeled with a bright orange sticker and canned vegetables with a blue sticker.
Most people with low vision can benefit from combined tactile and visual systems, as well as from learning to identify and organize using other senses, such as smell or sound. Spices can be identified with a sniff, and food can be turned or removed from the oven when it stops sizzling or smells cooked.
Mobility
Canes and even dogs can be used to help persons with low vision to navigate safely. There are numerous other techniques to assist with mobility, such as using a clock face to orient oneself to a room. For example, the sofa is at the 3 o'clock position and the television is at 9 o'clock. People with low vision can also use other senses to find their way around, whether it's the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway or the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen.
Low Vision Specialists
The best way a caregiver can help a person with decreased vision as a result of glaucoma is to engage the services of a low vision specialist. These professionals have the knowledge and experience to help find personal solutions for specific needs. Vision rehabilitation can help with mobility training as well as methods to organize, mark and label things, and resources for and proper use of low vision aids.
Many vision rehabilitation programs even offer mental health services to help with the anxiety or depression that often accompanies loss of vision.