Retinitis Pigmentosa - Macular Degeneration

While research findings provide hope for the future, there is only limited treatment for people with macular degeneration. Are there other ways that people with this condition can enhance the quality of their lives?

There are many devices and techniques that help people with Macular Degeneration maximize the use of their remaining vision.

The white cane is probably the most visible aid, and some people with Macular Degeneration find it a useful navigational aid if their vision loss progresses beyond a certain stage. The cane is a form of non-optical aid; that is, it does not have an actual effect on your eyes, although it may help you see or cope with vision loss. Other non-optical aids include guide dogs, audio tapes, and large print books.

There are also electronic aids. These include closed-circuit televisions (CCTV), reading machines, and talking computers, An increasing number of computer programmes are addressing the needs of the visually impaired, making it possible to easily enlarge type on the screen or provide an audio or Braille version to go with what is shown on the screen.

Optical aids are devices that work to improve your vision to some extent. These include Corning and NOIR glasses, the Fresnel prism, telescopes and magnifiers. Voice programmes for cell phones are also available. With advancing technology, some of these devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated and offering new opportunities for people with retinal degenerations to maximize their usable vision.

To determine which aids may be most useful for you, it is suggested that you get a thorough low vision evaluation from a specialist, Contact Retina South Africa for more information on low vision services in your area.