Does anyone know if someone with macular degeneration can read a large print book

[hedgehog]

or newspaper?

[hyphenate]

1. I can't answer that particular question

for you, but I do know that if you contact the Foundation for the Blind, they can help get equipment to look at newspapers and other written materials with information from the doctor. I was looking into this for my mom some years ago, as she qualified because of the damage from diabetic retinopathy.


This website might be of help:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp



on edit: added url

[Lurking Dem]

2. If she has lost all her central vision

then, no, she can't read.

[Warpy]

3. If peripheral vision is still good, yes, they can struggle through it

but books on tape are a much better idea. My mother went blind from MD and used her peripheral vision to do the daily word games in the newspaper. It was a real struggle for her, and I can't imagine her reading a whole book.

There are glasses available that maximize peripheral vision to the point that a person can read, but it is still an uncomfortable process. Plus, the glasses look like they've got mini telescopes set into the lenses and are quite heavy to wear.

My suggestion is for large print crossword puzzles and books on tape. Those seem to work about the best.

Unfortunately, newspapers on tape are few and far between. My mother found that the only current events publication she could get on tape was the Reader's Digest. That got old fast. She was restricted to what she could hear, meaning radio and TV.

I don't know how far computer programs have come in translating print to voice. I know the ones that attempt to translate voice to print come up with some pretty funny stuff.

[hedgehog]

4. Thank you - an audio book it is then!