Living with diabetic macular edema (DME) can feel like the world is out of focus, but a few adjustments can help you continue working, driving, and managing your daily tasks independently.
DME affects your central vision. This causes lower contrast sensitivity, which blurs objects and makes them hard to distinguish from their background. For instance, it can be hard to see and cut a white onion on a light cutting board.
The following tips can make daily tasks easier by adding contrast:
- Apply contrasting tape to stairways, including the edge of every stair.
- Choose a light-colored mug for dark liquids.
- Place a dark mat in a light bathtub.
- Use a dark cutting board for light foods and a dark one for dark foods (some have a light side and dark side in one).
- Use darker light switches on light-colored walls.
Consider these light adjustments to reduce shadows and increase contrast:
- Install LED strips under cabinets and rope lighting along baseboards.
- Place task lighting beside or behind you, opposite your writing hand.
- Switch to daylight bulbs.
- Use motion-sensor lights in closets.
- Use smart devices to schedule automatic light activity.
Your vision may be blurrier in the morning. Before you settle in for the night, make sure you have a clear path between your bed and bathroom for the morning. Keep your glasses and phone within easy reach. Consider a sound-controlled lamp so you don’t have to search for things or stand up in the dark.
Utilize large or bold font for your:
- Calendar
- Check register
- Clock or watch
- Container or bottle labels
- Medication labels (some pharmacies do this upon request)
- Weekly pill container (some also have raised dots)
Consider using the following tactile (touch) tools to avoid relying on your eyes on lower-vision days:
- Mark your clothing with safety pins by color, such as one pin to label black pants.
- Place bump dots on thermostats, remote controls, or hangers.
- Use 3D pens to label containers with raised lines.
- Use different amounts of rubber bands to distinguish similar bottles, like one rubber band on the shampoo and two on the conditioner.
- Use handwriting guides.
- Wrap bottles or stored items in textured fabric or pouches.
Visual aids like handheld magnifiers, including the one built into your phone, can help you read small print like menus or labels on the go. For longer reading sessions, stand magnifiers with built-in lights can help. Video magnifiers (CCTV systems) enlarge text and images on a screen, making detailed tasks or hobbies easier.
Voice-to-text technology can help you dictate messages or emails. You can also ask your phone or tablet to read articles and books aloud while you rest your eyes. Voice-activated assistants on your phone or smart speaker can set reminders and timers. Some can also control smart home devices, such as thermostats and lights, by voice.
You can also try talking equipment with the following items:
- Blood pressure monitors
- Clocks
- GPS systems
- Kitchen scales
- Liquid level indicators
- Medication labels (ask your pharmacy about these)
- Tape measures
- Thermometers (medical or cooking)
Consider apps that connect you with volunteers for real-time help identifying medications, reading labels, or navigating unfamiliar spaces.
Your computer, phone, and tablet likely have the free accessibility settings where you can:
- Enable screen magnification
- Increase text size to at least 16-point
- Match the screen brightness to the room around you
- Raise your display scale to 125-150%
- Turn on dark or high contrast mode
Consider adding a matte screen protector or tinted computer glasses (with or without a prescription) to reduce glare on digital screens.
Diabetic macular edema can reduce your ability to see subtle shade differences, making your closet a source of frustration. These tips help reduce the guesswork when you are choosing your outfits for the day:
- Install motion-sensing, daylight LED lights in your closet.
- Put pre-matched outfits on the same hanger.
- Use color-coded hangers, such as red for work shirts and blue for casual shirts.
- Use color-identifying apps, devices, or QR codes that describe colors out loud.
- Use white hangers for dark clothes and black hangers for light clothes to help you see the neckline.
DME can make driving dangerous by affecting your ability to see road signs, judge distances, and handle glare. Try these tips for safer driving:
- Avoid driving at dawn, dusk, and night when contrast is lowest.
- Keep your windshield spotless.
- Plan errands when the sun is overhead (10 a.m.–2 p.m.).
- Wear contrast-enhancing lenses or polarized sunglasses.
Certified driving specialists can evaluate your driving and recommend adaptive equipment to improve safety.
Consider exploring alternatives to driving, such as public transit, ride-sharing, community shuttles, or delivery services, on low-vision days or if you need to stop driving.
The following workplace or workspace adjustments can make your workday easier and safer:
- Audio tools
- High-contrast keyboard
- Large computer monitor (27-32 inches)
- Large print materials
- Safety accommodations, such as an evacuation partner or tactile map
- Tactile systems
- Task lighting
Stable blood sugar helps reduce vision fluctuations and may slow DME progression. To support your eye health:
- Check your capillary blood glucose (CBG), and take medications as directed.
- Get a comprehensive eye exam every year.
- Keep your hemoglobin A1C close to seven or the number you and your healthcare provider discussed.
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in your target ranges.
- Avoid smoking.
DME treatment often involves anti-VEGF injections, which may cause your eyes to feel gritty or blurry for 24-48 hours. Consider planning ahead for those days by pre-cooking meals, downloading audiobooks, and asking someone to drive you home after your appointment.
