Low Vision Diagnosis? Four Things You Can Do Today To Help

Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with low vision? Ability Central has the first steps to take to understand the diagnosis and prepare for the life changes accompanying it. This article will cover the following:

What does a diagnosis of low vision mean?
What adjustments can be made at home for someone with low vision?
What other adjustments should be considered for people with low vision?
What resources and support systems are available for people with low vision?

What does a diagnosis of low vision mean?

The article Low Vision: Frequency, Symptoms, and Types addresses each type of diagnosis. All of those diagnoses have one thing in common: low visual acuity. Visual acuity measures how sharp your vision is at a distance.

Vision is usually defined using two numbers. “Normal vision” is 20/20. That means a person can clearly focus on an object 20 feet away.

A person is defined as partially sighted when they have a visual acuity measurement of 20/70. This means when they are 20 feet from an eye chart, they see what a person with unimpaired (or 20/20) vision can see from 70 feet away.

A person is legally blind when their visual acuity is no better than 20/200 with conventional correction and/or a restricted field of vision less than 20 degrees wide.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with low vision, there are things you can do today to make life more manageable in the long term.

What adjustments can be made at home for someone with low vision?

One excellent way to help a loved one with low vision is to set up their home in a way that makes it easier to get around, complete chores, and enjoy their personal space.

Consider adjustments like these to your loved one's living environment:

Install handrails in the bathtub or shower and next to the toilet.
Provide a phone with increased text size, high contrast, and large numbers.
Create a list of important phone numbers in large print on bold-lined paper. Include doctors, transportation, and emergency contacts, and put the list in a convenient place.
De-clutter to remove as many non-essential items as possible.
Remove loose wires or cords from the floor.
Adjust the lighting and contrasts in the room.
Organize every area of the living space. For tips on room-by-room organizing, see Medline Plus's article, "Living with vision loss."

Once organized, only move the furniture after asking for permission. For anything you move, guide your loved one through the changes so they can orient themselves in their new space.

What adjustments should be considered beyond the living quarters?

Beyond the living space, consider the following improvements:

Fold different types of paper money in another way to help tell them apart by feel. For example, fold $10 bills in half and double-fold $20 bills.
Learn how to use a support cane or a probing cane (also known as “white cane” or “long cane”).
Be a shopping buddy. Help your loved one by providing transportation to and from appointments, picking up groceries, or completing other tasks. Don't do any of these things without asking your loved one first, though. Many people with low vision prefer to request help, rather than feeling like tasks they can manage are being taken away from them.
You may also want to learn Braille. Many nonprofit organizations and online retailers offer free, comprehensive resources for folks who want to learn more about living with low vision.

Learn what resources and support groups are available.

Once you have tackled the needs inside and outside the home, it is time to address the long-term need for support.

An initial diagnosis of low vision can take a toll on someone's mental health, as well as their family's, as the person with low vision's independence becomes a challenge. Recently diagnosed patients may go through a grieving process. Often, having someone in your corner can help calm the nerves and break down the overwhelming to-do list into manageable steps.

Learn about your rights, financial assistance, and support groups in Ability Central’s library of low-vision resources.

You can also find low vision quick facts, [early symptoms and signs of vision loss, and a nationwide database of organizations that offer support for people with vision disabilities. Use the Ability Central Service Locator tool to find an organization near you devoted to people with low vision.