Practical Help
Eye Conditions & Care | Practical Help
Practical Help for Daily Living
You may have been told that there is nothing that can be done to improve the medical condition of your eyes. However, there may be a lot that you can do to improve the way you use the useful sight that you have in your daily life.
Make things easier to see
- Use thick black felt-tip pens to write notes.
- Stick large numbers on telephones, clocks and other electrical items that you use - or buy them with large buttons and numbers.
- Try to obtain large print books.
- Enlarge printed material on a photocopier.
- Use a magnifier
- Improve the lighting in your home or work area. Increasing the brightness to a level you are comfortable with can help.
- Things can be made easier to see by putting them on a contrasting background. Items that are similar colours and tones can be difficult to differentiate, e.g. a white cup on a dark tablecloth is easier to see than if it is on a white background. Here are a few ideas:
- Paint door handles in a different colour or shade from the rest of the door and door frames.
- Use plain white cups for hot, dark-coloured drinks like black coffee.
- Use kitchen equipment that's a different colour from your work surfaces or use a coloured tray or mat to place it on.
- Tape some coloured strips around light switches.
Foresight has a fact sheet about adapting everyday tasks to make them easier and safer. We also hold Mobility Training sessions periodically. Please contact us if you would like more information.
Low Vision Aids
There are many products that have been designed to help people with low vision to assist their daily lives. These range from magnifiers, CCTV to computer software. Please see Useful Organisations for details of where these are available in the U.A.E. or ask your Ophthalmologist or eye doctor.
Helping People with Sight Loss
This section is aimed at friends and family of people who have developed sight problems.
Emotional support
It can be very difficult to know how to be supportive to someone who has developed a sight problem. You may feel very uncomfortable and not know what to say. You may experience feelings of loss and be concerned that your relationship might change. It is important to talk about how you both feel and how the situation can be helped. If you find it difficult to say how you feel or communication is breaking down; it may be worthwhile to visit a counsellor.
It can be difficult not to intervene and start doing everything for a friend or relative who has recently lost their sight. An act of kindness may actually affect the blind or partially-sighted person's ability to feel self-reliant, and undermine their self-confidence and self-esteem. Ask how you can help someone, rather than just assuming. In addition, remember that the needs of the person with sight problems may change over time.
Many people with sight problems are happy for friends and relatives to still use words and phrases such as 'See what I mean' when conversing with them.
Adjusting to having sight problems can take time. It may be difficult to watch a loved one struggle with different emotions. It can also be tiring and you may feel angry, frustrated, irritable and guilty. Talking to others can be helpful, as well as making time for yourself, and getting support for your needs.
Practical hints for relating to a person who is blind
Before you decide that the person is confused, be sure it isn't due only to lack of orientation. Do not "over-assist". Check before providing unnecessary, and unwanted, help.
Identify yourself upon entering and exiting a room or area. It is very embarrassing to discover that you are "talking to yourself" thinking someone is in the room with you or to be frightened when discovering that you are not alone.
Eliminate the use of the words "over there" and "over here". Preface the directional words "left" and "right" with the word "your"...
Write notes with black felt-tip pen on white paper or use audio cassettes for messages.
Allow the person who is visually impaired to make contact with the environment by placing their hand on a stable object when leaving them alone for a minute.
Don't be afraid to use the words "see", "watch", "look" or "I want to show you something". These are used in speech and their omission would be evident, making conversation unnatural and uncomfortable. The words to avoid are the sentimental ones like "Oh, you poor thing" or "What a terrible affliction".
When you're in the room or home of a person who is visually impaired, leave items where they were placed. If you move them, it may be difficult to find them again.
When guiding a person who is visually impaired, let him or her take your arm and follow you. DON'T push them ahead of you!! Do talk about what is going on around.
Always talk directly to a blind person, not through the companion. He or she is quite able to talk for themselves.
When serving refreshments fill a cup three quarters full; that way there will be less likelihood of spillage.
To help a person who is visually impaired into a chair, place their hand on the back of the chair and they can do the rest for themselves.
When getting into a car, guide the person's hand on to the top of the car roof, or on the car seat, and they can then cope alone in getting into the car - just check they don't bump their head.
Do try to be patient and appreciate the frustration that accompanies loss of sight.A blind person doesn't have to "save" their remaining vision. Eyes cannot be weakened or damaged by normal use.
Don't be overprotective. Encourage the person who is visually impaired to do as much as possible by him/herself, and for him/herself.
You could ask your friend or family member if they would like assistance to adapt their home to maximise their available sight through simple adaptations and low-vision aids.