“I have problems reading for very long,” a myAMDteam member said. “The other day, when I was reading for an hour, my eyes started to ache from the strain of trying to focus.”

It’s true that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can make it more difficult to read. Changing some reading conditions, like lighting and magnification, can help. Other devices and tools are available to help, too.

Discover how AMD affects reading, along with tips that can help you read more comfortably with the condition.

How To Read Better With AMD

Several strategies can make it easier to read when you have macular degeneration. For instance, making the words and letters bigger, increasing the color contrast between the letters and background, and improving the lighting can help. Below are a few specific tips.

Low Vision Rehabilitation

If you have issues reading, talk to your doctor about low vision rehabilitation. A low vision specialist can share recommendations for your specific needs and suggest tools, low vision aids, services, and modifications to make in your home. These methods can help you maintain everyday activities and remain as independent as possible.

For example, one myAMDteam member said that their low vision specialist recommended putting a rubber band around the shampoo bottle. This helped the member tell the shampoo and conditioner apart when reading small print in the shower wasn’t possible.

Reading Aids and Devices

Many reading aids for macular degeneration work by increasing magnification, increasing contrast, reducing glare, or repositioning where images fall in your visual field. Which devices will work best for you may depend on where in the eye your vision loss is happening and how severe it is.

Large-Print Books

Large-print reading materials can help you to continue reading. Large-print books and magazines are often available in public libraries. In some places, it may be possible to request that any official government or healthcare correspondence letters be printed in large print.

It may be a good idea to label or purchase other things you need to read in large print, too, like calendars, calculators, tape measures, cooking tools, and spices. Consider a large-print label maker for this purpose.

Magnifiers

Magnifiers help with reading by increasing the size of what you’re looking at, so more of it falls into a field of sight where your vision is working. There are many different kinds of magnifiers available. Different types could help with different activities:

• Handheld optical magnifiers can live in a bag or pocket for tasks like shopping.
• Stand magnifiers sit on a table or desk, and you position the page under them. They can work well for people with unsteady hands.
• Monocular magnifiers are like smaller, lighter telescopes. They could come in handy for activities like reading a faraway sign or bus number.
• Digital or electronic magnifiers use a camera and a screen, and they come in handheld and desktop sizes. Many offer settings such as adjustable magnification and color contrast.
• One type of digital magnifier that could work well in the home is a closed-circuit television (CCTV) magnifier. With this device, a camera broadcasts an enlarged image of the page or object you point it at to your television.

Some evidence says that digital magnifiers might be the best for reading.

“I have a small magnifier the size of a credit card that I carry with my credit cards to help with reading labels,” said one myAMDteam member. “I use my cell phone to take pictures of small print, then enlarge it to make it easier to read,” said another.

Lights

Reading in lower-light conditions can be especially challenging for people with AMD. You may need more light to read than you used to. Give your eyes a break by carrying a small light with you or using your phone flashlight to illuminate anything you need to read when you aren’t in a brightly lit place.

Some myAMDteam members mention that when reading the menu in a dimly lit restaurant, their phone flashlight always comes out. Other lighting suggestions for low-vision reading include using task lighting, positioning a lamp directed away from you below eye level, and using daylight lightbulbs.

E-Readers and Tablets

Using an electronic device to read can also help. These digital devices allow you to increase the font size and adjust the contrast and brightness.

“I’d be lost without my Kindle and/or iPad to enlarge the font for reading books and emails,” one myAMDteam member said.

The best Kindle settings for macular degeneration depend on your specific needs.

Some myAMDteam members find that lowering the brightness on their devices can make reading easier. “I adjusted my brightness to low on my phone and iPad. It’s helped me, especially at night,” shared one member.

“I’ve had to lower the brightness on all my devices. The light just seems too stark and harsh,” another member said.

Specialized Glasses

The right glasses should maximize the vision you have. Special glasses can also help with ultraviolet protection, improving color contrast, reducing glare, and magnifying text.

Many myAMDteam members report that blue-light-blocking glasses can make reading on a phone, tablet, or computer easier. “I have intermediate dry AMD and have more blurriness now when reading on my phone or Kindle. Those reading glasses that block out blue light from computer screens and phones really do help,” said one member.

Another member added, “I got some blue-light-blocking glasses, and they are helping me with close-up activities like reading on my phone. It’s less blurry.”

Talk With Your Doctor

While trouble reading can be frustrating, it’s possible to live well with AMD. Millions of people in the U.S. have AMD, and support is available to help slow the disease and to adjust to life with it.

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience any painful eye inflammation, sensitivity to light, eye pressure, eye floaters, or flashers. Also tell them about any difficulty reading. They may suggest resources or strategies that can help.

Join the Conversation

On myAMDteam, people share their experiences with age-related macular degeneration, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

What types of devices have helped you read better with AMD? Let others know in the comments below.