The best low vision aids to help you at home

There are some innovative products to help you around the home if your eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be, according to VisAbility.

As you age, your eyesight naturally deteriorates. The most common cause of vision loss in Australia is age-related macular degeneration, but any eye disease doesn’t have to put an end to your independence at home.

There are many low vision aids to help you undertake everyday tasks, increase confidence and improve your quality of life.

Simple devices can make a huge difference for people with vision impairment, making the impossible, possible.

Magnifiers and spot lighting are the top recommendations for people with vision loss.

They help compensate for reduced visual acuity and create better contrast sensitivity.

But aside from magnifiers and spot lighting, what are the best five low vision aids?

For more than 100 years VisAbility has offered support and services to people with blindness and vision impairment of all ages.

Kate, a Customer Service Officer at VisAbility, who lives with vision loss herself, has been outlining her favouritesthe top five items beneficial to people with low or no vision.

Liquid level indicators

A liquid level indicator, powered by batteries, provides audio and vibration alerts to indicate when the liquid has reached a certain level in a cup, beaker, or glass. It attaches to a receptacle to prevent spills and reduce the risk of burns or other accidents. Prongs detect when it’s nearly full.

It is small, portable, easily transportable, simple and easy to use.

Tilting kettle

A tilting kettle is a perfect addition to your kitchen if you live with vision loss. It’s an appliance designed to make pouring hot liquids easier and safer.

It features a tilting mechanism, so there’s no need to lift or tip the entire kettle. You can pour the contents into a cup or mug without holding it steady, reducing the risk of any accidents. It allows for greater independence and confidence when making hot drinks.

Onion or vegetable holder

An onion holder (or vegetable holder) is a kitchen gadget designed to help anyone with vision loss cut and chop vegetables safely. The prongs or spikes on the device hold the onion or vegetable in place, allowing the user to slice or dice it without the risk of injuring fingers.

Some vegetable holders have a textured surface or are colour contrasted to help locate the position of the vegetable or onion.

Bumps and dots

Tactile bumps and dots are physical indicators - raised circular dots made of plastic that you can feel with your fingertips. They allow anyone with vision impairment to

Assistance Available

For those with failing vision, there are some helpful gadgets on offer.

distinguish a specific area on an object through touch and texture.

They can be easily attached to household items, such as oven settings, older-style phones, microwaves and toiletries such as shampoos, conditioners and body wash.

Audio book players

An audio book player is a device designed to play talking books in a format that’s far more accessible to individuals who have difficulty reading printed text. An audio book has large, tactile buttons and high-contrast displays. The device is simple to use. It has options to skip chapters and select a desired book with ease. It allows you to bookmark your place, so you will never lose your spot.

Audio books use DAISY cartridges, a type of removable storage medium. DAISY itself stands for Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY). Several books are on one DAISY cartridge.

Anyone with a print disability can access VisAbility’s Audio Library for free. A print disability means someone can’t read standard printed materials due to vision loss, or physical or cognitive impairments.

All the items suggested in this article are available at VisAbility’s Resource Centre and Shop on Kitchener Avenue in Victoria Park in Western Australia. You don’t have to be a VisAbility client to visit the shop. The items are also available online through an online catalogue.

You can find out more by visiting www.visability.com. au/oak or call (08) 9311 8202