Skip to main content
Macular Disease Foundation Australia
  • My Cart
  • Text Only
  • Listen
  • Print Page
  • Language
    • English
    • Arabic
    • Chinese
    • Greek
    • Italian
    • Portuguese
    • Spanish
    • Vietnamese
  • Search form

Check My Macula Check My Macula Join the Community Join the Community Order Free Information Order Free Information Call our helpline at 1800111709 Helpline
1800 111 709
Donate Donate
  • Home
  • Macular Disease
    • Macular Degeneration
      • About Macular Degeneration
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
      • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • How The Eye Works
    • Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetes
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Low Vision
      • Living with Low Vision
      • Carer and Family
      • Aids and Technology
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
      • Macular Pucker
      • Macular Telangiectasia
      • Myopic Macular Degeneration
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Retinitis Pigmentosa
      • Retinal Vein Occlusion
      • Stargardt Disease
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
  • Research
    • Research Grants Program
      • Research Grants Awarded
      • Research Grant Recipients
      • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
      • Research Grants panel
    • Support Research
    • Understanding Research
    • Latest Research
      • Research News
      • MDFA Research
      • Macular Diseases
      • Social Impact
    • Research Updates
      • Annual Research Update
      • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
    • Research studies
  • Resources
    • Macula Month 2020
      • Order Macula Month resources
    • Order Publications and Resources
    • Find a Healthcare Provider
    • Audio and Video
      • Audio
      • See My World podcast
      • Patient Voices
      • Videos
    • Aged care resources
  • News & Events
    • Newsletters
      • Vision Voice Newsletters
      • Subscribe to Newsletters
      • Archive
    • News
      • 2020 news
      • 2019 News
      • 2018 News
      • 2017 News
      • 2016 News
      • Archived News
    • Events & Activities
      • Community Events
      • Education Sessions
      • Events Calendar
    • Media Centre
      • Media Releases
  • Foundation
    • Organisation
      • History
      • Objectives
      • Guiding Principles
      • Annual Reports
      • Whistleblower Policy
      • Financial Statements
    • People
      • Patron
      • State Patrons / Representatives
      • Ambassadors
      • Foundation Board
      • Committees
      • State Chairs
      • National Research Advisor
    • Our Work
      • Awareness
      • Education
      • Support Services
      • Research
      • Representation
    • Support Us
      • Donate
      • Bequests
      • Fundraise
      • Volunteer
      • Friends of the Foundation
      • Sponsors and Supporters
      • Professional Friends
    • Contact Us
Listen
Macular Disease Foundation Australia
Check My Macula Macula Join the Community Join Us Order Free Information Free Info Donate Donate
Menu
  • My Cart
    • Language
      • English
      • Arabic
      • Chinese
      • Greek
      • Italian
      • Portuguese
      • Spanish
      • Vietnamese
    • Home
    • Macular Disease
      • Macular Degeneration
        • About Macular Degeneration
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
        • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • How The Eye Works
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetes
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Low Vision
        • Living with Low Vision
        • Carer and Family
        • Aids and Technology
        • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Legal blindness
      • Other Macular Diseases
        • Best Disease
        • Macular Hole
        • Macular Pucker
        • Macular Telangiectasia
        • Myopic Macular Degeneration
        • Retinal Detachment
        • Retinitis Pigmentosa
        • Retinal Vein Occlusion
        • Stargardt Disease
        • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
        • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
      • Visit Eye Health Professional
        • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
      • Macular Disease
        • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
    • Research
      • Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Awarded
        • Research Grant Recipients
        • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants panel
      • Support Research
      • Understanding Research
      • Latest Research
        • Research News
        • MDFA Research
        • Macular Diseases
        • Social Impact
      • Research Updates
        • Annual Research Update
        • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
      • Research studies
    • Resources
      • Macula Month 2020
        • Order Macula Month resources
      • Order Publications and Resources
      • Find a Healthcare Provider
      • Audio and Video
        • Audio
        • See My World podcast
        • Patient Voices
        • Videos
      • Aged care resources
    • News & Events
      • Newsletters
        • Vision Voice Newsletters
        • Subscribe to Newsletters
        • Archive
      • News
        • 2020 news
        • 2019 News
        • 2018 News
        • 2017 News
        • 2016 News
        • Archived News
      • Events & Activities
        • Community Events
        • Education Sessions
        • Events Calendar
      • Media Centre
        • Media Releases
    • Foundation
      • Organisation
        • History
        • Objectives
        • Guiding Principles
        • Annual Reports
        • Whistleblower Policy
        • Financial Statements
      • People
        • Patron
        • State Patrons / Representatives
        • Ambassadors
        • Foundation Board
        • Committees
        • State Chairs
        • National Research Advisor
      • Our Work
        • Awareness
        • Education
        • Support Services
        • Research
        • Representation
      • Support Us
        • Donate
        • Bequests
        • Fundraise
        • Volunteer
        • Friends of the Foundation
        • Sponsors and Supporters
        • Professional Friends
      • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Macular Disease
  • Low Vision
  • Aids and Technology
  • Living Aids
  • Lighting
Back

Macular Disease

  • Macular Degeneration
    • About Macular Degeneration
      • Check My Macula
        • Check My Macula sign up
    • What Happens?
    • Risk Factors
    • Prevention
      • Lifestyle
      • Nutrition
        • Nutrient Content of Foods
      • Supplements
    • Detection
      • Early Signs
      • Changes to Vision
      • Professional Testing
      • Amsler Grid
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
      • Early and Intermediate Macular Degeneration
      • Wet Macular Degeneration
      • Dry Macular Degeneration
    • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
    • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • How The Eye Works
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
    • About Diabetic Retinopathy
      • How the Eye Works
    • About Diabetes
      • Diabetes and the Eye
    • What Happens?
    • Risk Factors
    • Prevention
    • Detection
      • Testing
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
      • Diabetes Care Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Low Vision
    • Living with Low Vision
      • Causes
      • Impact
      • Challenges
      • Just Diagnosed
      • Maintaining Independence
        • Reading
        • Driving
        • Lifestyle
      • Low Vision Assessment
        • Visiting a Low Vision Service Provider
      • Coping Strategies
      • Depression
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
    • Carer and Family
      • Guide for Care
      • Becoming a Carer
      • Care Plan
      • Support Team
      • Effective Communication
      • Guiding
      • Caring for the Carer
      • Entitlements
      • Impact of Caring
    • Aids and Technology
      • Ten Step Action Plan
      • Living Aids
        • Lighting
        • Reading Aids
        • Optical Magnifiers
        • Spectacles
        • Organisation
        • Writing Aids
        • Talking Aids
        • Leisure
      • Mobility Aids
        • Guide Dogs
        • Canes
        • Electronic Mobility Aids
      • Technology
        • Mobile Phones
        • Television and Radio
        • Audio Technology
          • Computers and Software
          • Electronic Magnifiers
        • Subsidy Programs
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Reducing Risk
          • Around the Home
          • In the Community
          • Your Health
            • Mobility and Strength
            • Medicines
          • Mobility Training
        • Falling
          • Why We Fall
          • Planning For Help
          • After A Fall
          • Fear of Falling
      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
      • Macular Pucker
      • Macular Telangiectasia
      • Myopic Macular Degeneration
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Retinitis Pigmentosa
      • Retinal Vein Occlusion
      • Stargardt Disease
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease

    Lighting

    Lighting is one of the most important and simple adjustments you can make to help maximise your vision. It can make an enormous difference to your ability to read, write and undertake fine work.

    One of the key aspects of any low vision assessment is to check that the lighting you have in place is appropriate and correctly positioned. This is because some types of light will work better than others, depending on the eye disease.

    Depending on your needs, there are many task and portable lamps available that can provide effective directional lighting. There are also lights with built-in magnifiers designed specifically for reading, writing and other tasks.

    To make the most of lighting:

    • Have your back to a window to reduce glare
    • Use direct lighting from behind
    • Use lighting on a flexible arm (gooseneck lamps) so that it can be positioned to suit the task
    • A magnification lamp can provide extra lighting for  close work or reading
    • Ensure stairs, bathrooms, kitchens and other areas of activity are well lit
    • Avoid looking into bright lights

    Glare

    Glare can be very difficult for people with low vision so it is important to control glare as much as possible. Options include UV shielding sunglasses, fit-overs or clip-ons for use outside. They are available in a variety of styles, colours, and a range of special lenses which can help reduce glare. Discuss concerns about glare and your needs with your eye health professional or a low vision agency.
     

    To cut down glare:

    • Wear a visor or hat when outdoors or under fluorescent lights
    • Reduce glare from shiny surfaces by covering them with a cloth, and control glare on windows with blinds and curtains
    • Place a chair safely at doorways to remind you to stop and pause and allow your eyes to adjust to the light
    • Adjust your TV viewing. Position yourself or the TV to reduce glare, move closer to the TV and/or adjust your angle.

    Contrast

    Good contrast is important for people with low vision.

    You can easily create contrasts by placing or arranging very different things such as colours, shades, and textures next to each other in a way that highlights their differences.

    To create contrasts at home:

    • Use colours that maximise contrasts on surfaces in the workplace, as well as in kitchens and bathrooms
    • When writing, enlarge text size and use a thick black felt pen on white non-glossy paper
    • Affix contrasting paint or tape on the edges of work surfaces and shelves to make the edges easier to see
    • Ensure crockery and utensils are in different, bright and contrasting colours
    • Use white plates on plain contrasting coloured place mats
    • Use different coloured chopping boards and utensils, e.g. chop light items such as onion on the dark board
    • Use contrasting colours for cupboard handles
    • Use light and power switches with contrasting coloured backing plates.
       
    Share this article
    Select Your Type?
     
     
     
    • Home
    • Macular Disease
    • Research
    • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Foundation

    Contact Us

    1800 111 709
    info@mdfoundation.com.au
    Suite 902, Level 9, 447 Kent Street, Sydney 2000

    Follow Us

    acnc_logo_reverse.png


    Helpline 1800 111 709

    Donate

    Macular Disease Foundation Australia ABN 52096255177
    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Disclaimer