9 Ways to Manage Vision Loss From Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when abnormal blood vessels build up beneath the retina of the eye and leak fluid and blood into the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. The abnormal blood vessels and the leakage cause the retina to swell as fluid accumulates in and under it, and that can lead to scarring, especially if it’s not treated promptly. Both the swelling (which is treatable) and the scarring (which is not treatable) lead to central vision loss.

When your eyesight begins to fail in this way, daily activities — taking medication, reading, driving — can become much more challenging. But a low-vision specialist can offer you tools and resources and suggest lifestyle modifications to help you see more clearly — or learn to do things without clear sight.

“Through the use of various aids, low-vision rehabilitation is aimed at addressing each person’s individual goals to help maintain their level of independence as much as possible,” says Ashley Deemer, OD, an assistant professor at the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University in Fullerton.

Get started with these steps.

Update Your Eyeglasses

You may benefit from a new prescription for eyeglasses. But if you’ve just initiated eye injection treatments for wet AMD, your vision tends to stabilize about three months after you start treatment. You’ll want to wait until the retina is stable and swelling or bleeding is under control before adjusting your prescription.

There are limits to how much glasses can help compensate for eye damage. Deemer compares the situation to a camera. Think of eyeglasses as the focus mechanism of the camera lens and the retina as the film. “If the film is smudged or damaged in any way, the picture will still be blurry,” she says. Talk with your ophthalmologist or optometrist to see if a new prescription might help.

Adjust Your Computer Screen

Changing some settings on your computer may make it easier for you to see. For instance, try increasing the magnification on the screen and adjusting the contrast and brightness. It may take a few tries to find what works best for you. There are programs you can download, like ZoomText, that can enlarge and enhance whatever is on your computer screen.

You might find that a larger, bolder font or reversing the colors on your screen to white letters on a black background can help, Deemer says. Also, avoid any glare on your screen from sunlight or indoor lighting.

Update Your Phone

Try experimenting with your smartphone to find the features that are most helpful to you and your vision. Many smartphones have an accessibility section within the settings to modify parameters to assist with impaired vision, Deemer notes. Additionally, there are numerous apps you can download to help with everything from navigating your environment to reading small text.

Think of a cell phone as an important tool to help with directions, alarm reminders, and communication with others.

Opt for Talking Tools

There are devices you can talk to and devices that talk to you — both of which can make your life easier when you have low-vision.

When it comes to writing and reading text, consider computer software programs that translate your voice into text and read text aloud.

Voice activation, speech recognition, and dictation software, as well as text-to-speech software systems, can greatly improve the way that you receive information. “Rather than relying on your vision, which may tend to fluctuate or be inconsistent, you can access this technology for correspondence with family and friends and to complete work tasks,” Deemer says.

Try Magnifiers

There are many magnifying devices available, from handheld options with lights to bar designs that magnify one line of text at a time. There are also domed, clip-on, pocket-size, and fixed-stand magnifiers. These products work in different ways: Some magnify a small area close up, and others magnify areas farther away, so you might want to buy several to fit all your vision needs.

“Optical magnifiers can help by making print larger and, therefore, easier to read,” Deemer says. “Electronic magnification devices work by enhancing both the magnification level and the contrast, making reading tasks much easier for people with wet AMD.”

Brighten Up Your Lighting

Wet AMD affects your ability to see contrast and color, so the right lighting can make a big difference. Everyone’s needs are unique, but lighting labeled “natural spectrum” or “LED” typically works best for people with wet AMD. An adjustable, bright lamp can provide light for reading in particular, Deemer says.

“Task lighting through the use of a gooseneck lamp can be helpful to make print bolder and darker when it’s brought close to the reading material or area of interest,” she adds. There are also magnifiers that have LED lighting built in to provide better contrast.

Grab Your Shades

Rethink Transportation

You may need to give up driving and use other ways to get around, such as taking taxis, buses, and other public transportation or asking a friend or family member to drive you where you need to go. Check with your local senior centers to see if they offer transportation services, the NHTSA suggests.

Work Closely With Your Doctor

There are emerging treatments for wet AMD that can minimize or slow vision loss, so make sure you form a close partnership with your doctor to manage your condition as well as possible. “The best thing to do is to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Deemer says. “This includes not smoking, protecting your eyes from ultraviolet light exposure, and eating a nutritious diet.”

If any of your symptoms start to worsen, be sure to see your doctor right away. Treatments for wet AMD are most effective at preserving vision if they’re started promptly.

In addition to your doctor, nonprofit organizations such as the Lighthouse Guild, VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Helen Keller Services for the Blind, among others, offer programs teaching those with low vision how to develop skills to mitigate their visual limitations. They may also provide advice and financial support to help you obtain low-vision aids such as magnifiers.