Watching TV with Low Vision

By Tom Perski

As I have worked with many families over the years, I noticed that one of the common ways families try to help their visually impaired, loved one: they purchase a giant TV set. Most people do this because they feel their relative will be able to see better. This is only natural in our thinking, but I want to share some alternatives that may produce superior results at a much lower cost.

Many people call and ask me how they can see the TV better. There are a myriad of low vision devices and telescopic glasses that can do the trick, especially from across the room. For some, the cost of such devices is prohibitive while others complain of eyestrain and fatigue after using the special glasses for some time.


Sitting close to the TV

It seems elementary, but often times this simple trick is passed over by many. The first question I always ask someone is if they have tried sitting closer to the TV – and not just close, I mean extremely close. Often, I hear the same response; “Wow! I can see vivid colors sitting this close,” or “I can read and see the faces, what a difference!” The ironic, unexpected, main objection to sitting close to the TV is that many people want to avoid rearranging the furniture. People often say “I can't have a nice chair sitting right in front of the TV in my living room-how would that look to others?”

I had a gentleman call me and insist that I write a notice to every eye care professional in the US. He was so surprised to find that not only did he see the TV better and sharper when up close, but his scotoma, or blind spot, (what he calls his “junk”) disappeared completely! “The answer is so simple” he stated, “yet no one has informed me about it!”

There are some very technical explanations as to why a person's blind spot seems to disappear when viewing the TV up close, but lets avoid all the scientific explanations and just try it; you'll thank me later! Trust me, you cannot hurt your eyes sitting close to the TV, so don't worry and move up close!

When you move up, what you are doing is making the picture much larger on your retina. For instance, if you've been sitting 8 feet away and move up to 4 feet, you have made the picture twice, 2X, as big in your eye. If you move up to 2 feet away, you have made the picture four times larger or 4X. Getting up close is one way to improve your functional vision.

Other Important Considerations

When viewing a TV up close, anyone can notice that a small set appears crisper than a larger screen. Before you go out and buy a large screen TV, go to the local retailer and look at all of the different sizes to see which is best for you. Try to stand within three to four feet of the screen and if possible, make sure that the screen is at eye level. Also, try viewing at a slight angle.

For those with macular degeneration, or persons with a central blind spot, there are even more tricks you can use to improve your viewing. If one eye is better than another, turn your chair on a 45° angle toward your better eye. Facing the screen directly can often place the blind spot right in the view of the picture. In other words, looking straight at a TV screen when you have a large central blind spot is not the best strategy.

Another trick is to sit close to your television, look slightly above the center of the screen and notice the picture. You may even want to try looking slightly above the picture. Once you are looking up, slowly come back to the center and stop when the picture looks its clearest. Move your eyes slowly, practice, and have patience. It may take a little while to perfect this technique, but placing your blind spot above what you want to see is often better than looking directly at something.

Another factor to consider when watching television is the glare on the screen. Light from windows, doors or lamps can often reflect onto the screen, reducing your ability to see as well. Sometimes placement of the TV away, or not directly across, from windows, doors, or lamps helps tremendously.

Notice the angle at which you are looking at the screen; are you looking down or at eye level? Often, if your TV is very low or too high, it could be hard to see when compared to straight-on viewing. Having the screen just several inches below eye level is ideal. Don't ever put the screen up above your eye level as this will only hurt your neck and may cause your eyes to become dry. Relax and be aware of your neck, shoulders and back when watching. Make sure the chair is supporting you and none of your muscles are strained.

I sincerely hope that these suggestions will help improve your TV viewing. They are cost effective, experience proven methods that are often gone unnoticed by many with low vision. However, they do not work for everyone. If these suggestions do not help, a specialist in low vision devices may be able to guide you in finding a device that will.

Update

Have you ever seen a digital video recorder? A digital video recorder, or DVR, is an excellent tool for someone with low vision. It may take quite a bit of practice to learn the buttons on the remote, but it may result in a satisfying, enjoyable viewing experience because it enables you to control whichever program you are viewing.

A DVR can often replace your current cable box or satellite box. The DVR gives you the ability to pause live television, fast-forward or rewind a program, and record a program you are watching through a single push of a button. There are many instances when a person with low vision misses an important bit of information on the TV screen. By learning the buttons on the DVR, you can rewind as many times as you like and even pause the picture to write down an important phone number or move up closer to the TV in order to see and recognize a face.

The ability to record a program without having to use a videotape or VCR is often well worth the cost of a DVR. Some satellite systems even have offers of a free DVR. The DVR also has a guide button, which gives you a listing of all the channels and programs available. Have your TV service representative increase the size of the guide, so that you can move up close to the TV to see the information. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to see the guide from several feet away unless you're using a special low vision device.

Watching TV can be a pleasurable experience as long as you are willing to make the changes and rearrange your room. Having a TV at eye level closest to your better-seeing eye is the key. Make sure you try smaller televisions and get the sharpest picture possible through your cable or satellite company. The quality of your life will definitely improve if you commit, stay patient, and make these necessary changes.