Bye Bye Blurry Eye: Tips For Overcoming Visual Impairments While Reading
If you have a visual impairment, that doesn't mean you have to give up print content completely. Glasses can help improve some vision problems, but you may still find yourself struggling in certain environments. Luckily, with the advancements of technology and the support of an optometrist, you have many opportunities to enjoy reading successfully. Here are a few tips for improving your visibility to make reading easier, whether you're wearing glasses or not.
Make it Brighter
The lighting in your reading space is essential, because it contributes to your visibility. Consider adding an adjustable lamp to your reading area as a supplement to your overhead lighting. The adjustable lamp will allow you to aim the light directly toward your reading, which will eliminate shadows and improve visibility. Your optometrist can tell you what type of bulb is best to avoid straining your eyes. It's important to seek that specialist opinion, because some lighting can do more damage than help, such as bulbs that are too bright and harsh.
Make it Larger
Magnifying page covers and screens are great investments when you have a hard time seeing smaller type. If you just need to make things a bit bigger when you're reading, this may be a good solution. Screens sized to fit standard books will target the magnification to the page where you need it.
Make it Digital
The digital reader transition has made electronic books available to the masses. One of the best things about these readers for people with visual impairment is that they allow you to zoom in on the text. This zoom feature enlarges the text for you, making it clearer and easier to see. Many of these readers even include adjustments for brightness and even background color – which can help you create more contrast between the text and the background for easier visibility.
Make it Talk
If you're struggling with visibility even after trying many of these options, consider the possibility of investing in audio books. These recordings make it possible for you to enjoy most of the same books you could purchase in traditional form. In fact, the National Library of Science offers audio book material to individuals with visual impairments. With the use of their audio player, you get access to their complete archive of audio books through direct mail delivery.
These are a few alternatives that you can use to preserve your enjoyment of reading even with a visual impairment. Talk with your optometrist about corrective lenses designed specifically for reading or try some of these tips to see what works well for you. Contact a company like Langley Optometry Clinic for more information.
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