Welcome to Adapting to Vision Loss! My name is Sylvia , and I am passionate about empowering individuals with visual impairments to lead full, active, and independent lives. This mission is deeply personal to me, as I’ve been navigating my own journey with vision loss for over 20 years.
I have the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition I was diagnosed with in my mid-50s. My first encounter with AMD, however, was much earlier when my mother was diagnosed in her mid-70s. Watching her struggle and lose interest in activities she once loved was heartbreaking. She became very depressed and stopped trying to do anything beyond the basics of daily living. Seeing her experience inspired me to make a promise to myself: if I ever lost my vision, I would do everything possible to maintain my independence and continue living a rich, fulfilling life.
Now, as someone who is legally blind (but not fully blind), I’ve kept that promise. Through determination and resourcefulness, I’ve acquired numerous assistive devices, participated in low vision groups, and developed my own tips and hacks for managing visually challenging tasks. Most importantly, I’ve dedicated myself to sharing this knowledge with others who are navigating similar challenges.
In addition to this website, I created a Facebook page titled The Low Vision Detective, where I regularly share insights, tips, and resources for overcoming the daily obstacles of vision impairment. As I continued researching and learning, I realized there was so much more information I could share—and that’s how this website was born. Here, I aim to provide practical advice, reviews of helpful technology, and encouragement for anyone adapting to vision loss.
Thank you for visiting. Whether you’re here to find resources for yourself or to support a loved one, I hope you find the information and inspiration you need. Together, we can make life with vision loss not only manageable but meaningful and rewarding.