Wet AMD: 20 Home Modifications for People With Vision Loss

If you have wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in which abnormal blood vessels in your eye leak blood or fluid, you may experience impaired central vision.

“Losing central vision affects your ability to focus directly on objects. People often complain about seeing blind spots or a shadowy area in their line of sight, which can affect their ability to function in the home and decrease their overall quality of life,” says Danise Levine, an architect and certified aging-in-place specialist. She is the assistant director of the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at the State University of New York in Buffalo.

This type of impaired vision can make it more difficult to navigate your home and complete everyday tasks. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make your home more accommodating.

“What we really want to do is make the environment more functional and safer for everybody, including family members and caregivers,” says Levine, who also points out that many helpful home modifications cost little to no money, especially with good research and planning.

And even though some more extensive renovations can also be helpful, “Home adaptations don’t have to be implemented all at once,” Levine notes. She recommends the following environmental interventions if you’re experiencing vision loss from wet AMD.

Overall Home Modifications

Some modifications apply to any space in your home where they may be useful, Levine says. Start with these tips.

1. Eliminate tripping hazards. Common tripping hazards include area rugs, electrical cords, footstools, and any items that may block even a small part of your footpath. These should be removed to ensure walking surfaces and pathways promote safe movement and prevent falls, Levine says.
2. Provide contrast between light switches and wall surfaces. When a switch plate is similar in color to the wall surface, it can be difficult to locate. Levine recommends changing these panels to provide maximum contrast with the wall.
3. Avoid flooring with patterns or stripes. Flooring that’s too busy can be visually confusing or uncomfortable to look at, Levine says. Simple colors and uniform textures make it easier to differentiate the floor from objects and furniture.
4. Use adjustable window coverings to reduce glare. In any room, says Levine, it’s important to use window coverings, such as blinds or drapes, that allow you to control the amount of light entering a room and prevent glare from interfering with daily tasks.

Hall, Stair, and Doorway Modifications

When you’re moving between areas of your home, it’s important to reduce your risk of falling, Levine says. Here’s how to stay on your feet.

1. Mark steps and stairways. If there are different levels in your home — even just a step or two — it’s important to provide some type of visual identification of changes in level to prevent falls. Adding strips of bright color to stair edges can help, as can a stair covering (carpet or paint) that contrasts with the floor. It’s also helpful to have a textural differentiation in the flooring to indicate where a stairway meets a landing, so you don’t miss a step or anticipate one that isn’t there, says Levine.
2. Install railings and handholds. Every stairway needs to have a railing on at least one side, and installing them on both sides increases safety. Additionally, grab rails or handholds can be strategically placed in any area of the home that’s tricky to maneuver, Levine says.
3. Paint doors and doorframes for maximum contrast. Doors and doorframes should be recognizable and contrast with adjacent wall surfaces to allow you to easily determine whether a door is open or shut, Levine says.

Kitchen Modifications

Some of the most complex tasks you perform each day are likely to take place in your kitchen, so it’s an important room to focus on when making modifications, according to Levine. She recommends the following.

1. Provide contrast between the countertop and the floor. When your central vision is impaired, it can be hard to see where the countertop ends if the floor is a similar color. You can eliminate this problem by providing contrast between the countertop and flooring or putting a strip of colorful tape or decorative transition material at the edge of your kitchen counters.
2. Choose dishes in colors that contrast with your countertop and tablecloth. While this isn’t essential for most people, using dishes that stand out can make them easier to locate.
3. Replace shiny or slippery flooring. Some kitchens have ceramic tile floors that are prone to glare from sunlight and become slippery when wet. Replacing this type of flooring is often worth the cost to help prevent accidents in the kitchen.
4. Label food containers and medications. Try color-coding labels according to the contents of the container. It’s also important to use a simple font (without serifs) in large type and in a color that contrasts with its background.
5. Use under-cabinet task lighting. Installing lights under your kitchen cabinets doesn’t have to be expensive and can make it a lot easier to see what you’re doing. “It’s actually an energy saver as well,” Levine notes, “because you’re not lighting the whole kitchen.”

Bathroom Modifications

Bathrooms can also be a tricky area for people with visual impairment, especially because of the risk of slipping on a wet surface, she says. To address this, try these tips.

1. Use only nonslip rugs and mats. Items with rubber backing that contrast with the floor color are the best choice.
2. Choose towels that contrast with your wall. As with countless other items, hanging towels that stand out from their background makes them easier to locate.
3. Modify your bathtub or shower. Walk-in showers and step-in bathtubs promote independence and eliminate the need to climb over a barrier to bathe, Levine notes. Installing a grab bar and nonslip treads in your shower area can also reduce your risk of falling. If space permits, you might want to consider putting a bench in your shower to make certain tasks easier. It can also help to use pump dispensers for shampoo and soap to limit the complexity of opening and closing containers.
4. Install a magnifying mirror. Mounting an adjustable magnifying mirror to your wall can improve your ability to see your facial features and complete basic grooming tasks, Levine says.

Bedroom and Living Room Modifications

While bedrooms and living rooms tend to be areas for rest and recreation, it’s still important to make sure you can navigate them safely, Levine says. Here are her recommendations.

1. Differentiate furniture from walls and flooring. Place items such as throw pillows and blankets on beds and sofas to improve your ability to locate them within the room.
2. Improve closet lighting. You can install additional lighting in closets to make it easier to find items.
3. Position your TV to reduce glare. Place your television where glare won’t interfere with the image or can be easily controlled with adjustable window coverings.
4. Keep handheld magnifiers handy. In areas of your home where you read fine print or do work that requires intricate detail, such as sewing, low-vision magnifiers can help reduce eye strain and allow you to see the details of an object. Increasing ambient light brightness in rooms can also help.