Guidelines for home care for people with wet macular degeneration

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Bich Nhi - Ophthalmologist - General Surgery Department - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital. The doctor has 10 years of experience in the field of ophthalmology.

Macular degeneration is a common disease in the elderly, so learning how to live together and understanding how to care for people with macular degeneration at home is essential.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common disease in the elderly, in which wet age-related macular degeneration accounts for a small proportion of patients with age-related macular degeneration. macular degeneration, but can potentially cause severe vision impairment, including symptoms such as loss of central visual field, twisted field of vision, blurred vision spots, or complete loss of vision in some cases. point. The patient's daily activities and quality of life are thus severely affected and impaired.

Wet macular degeneration never leads to total and permanent loss of vision, but the loss of vision is very rapid. Therefore, to be able to ensure safety and care at home for people with wet macular degeneration, certain preparations are needed.

The living area of ​​people with wet macular degeneration should not contain objects that can become obstacles and cause danger, such as floor mats, stools, baby chairs, even small tables, .. Impaired eyesight can prevent patients from noticing them, leading to tripping. If there are young children in the house, always make sure toys as well as items are always neatly arranged, never lying on the floor to avoid possible dangerous situations.

To help people with wet macular degeneration see things more clearly, increase the lighting in the home. Install more lights in places they often use, such as working, reading, cooking, sewing,... In addition to fixed light bulbs, prepare portable lights that can be used. Use in any position as needed. Try different bulbs to find the best one to use.

Stairs are the place that needs to be maintained the most. The entire staircase must be illuminated, especially the first and last steps to avoid accidents. Places such as restrooms, bathrooms can be considered to keep the lights on all night to create convenience and safety for use. If possible, consider installing automatic lights.

Adequate lighting is essential, but care must be taken to avoid glare. Curtains, glass panels, ... are items that can help avoid glare, or you can arrange chairs and commonly used seats a little further from the window.

People with wet macular degeneration may have difficulty recognizing objects without contrast, such as two black objects next to each other. Use masking tape or paint to add color to necessary places and items such as light switches, thermostat knobs, doorknobs, latches,... Bowls, plates, cups, cups, cooking utensils ,... please choose different colors so that people with wet macular degeneration can easily recognize and distinguish.

Magnifiers of all sizes can assist people with wet macular degeneration in reading text and a variety of situations. It is possible to prepare many magnifying glasses of all sizes, along with a number of hand-held flashlights available in different positions to create maximum convenience when needed.

If possible, it is possible to equip modern electronic devices that support voice control to help people with wet macular degeneration easily use, such as portable mobile devices, watches. wristbands, alarm clocks,...
If it is really possible to apply smart home systems, then the life of people with wet macular degeneration will be very easy, by actions such as turning on and off the lights, turning on the radio, adjusting the air conditioner temperature, opening and closing the door, ... will be done entirely through voice control.
With today's common electronic devices such as computers, laptops, smartphones,... all have the ability to adjust the font to a larger size, making it more convenient to use. If not equipped for the patient, or have conditions, the old equipment can be replaced with new devices with larger display sizes, combined with large fonts to optimize usability.

Frequently used items should be arranged in a convenient, easy-to-see and easy-to-access place. Caption labels can be added with large font to make them easier to identify, such as cupboards, pot drawers, medicine cabinets,...

People with wet macular degeneration are able to drive their own vehicles or not need to consult a specialist. Even with the consent of the doctor, but in unfavorable conditions (such as at night, bad weather,...) you should not drive the vehicle yourself. Public transportation or traveling with relatives and acquaintances are safe options that should be considered.

Reference source: webmd.com