Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Maybe dumb question for other VI people (self.Blind)
submitted by haelaeif
How do others with visual impairment deal with eye strain?
It seems every other minute I have to clean my glasses, go stare at nothing much for a while, etc. Kinda hampers productivity. It gets especially bad towards the end of the day, or on bright, sunny days. Even with making text larger on things I still find myself straining..
Beyond the aforementioned, and things like f.lux, is there anything I can do to reduce the incessant soreness?
It seems every other minute I have to clean my glasses, go stare at nothing much for a while, etc. Kinda hampers productivity. It gets especially bad towards the end of the day, or on bright, sunny days. Even with making text larger on things I still find myself straining..
Beyond the aforementioned, and things like f.lux, is there anything I can do to reduce the incessant soreness?
vwlsmssng 10 points 5y ago
Not a dumb question.
The VI person I know makes use of a good screen reader / text-to-speech software to listen rather than look where this is practical. Spreadsheets and slide-shows can be just a pain
Having a VI friendly colour scheme on the computer helps them a bit too. Knowing how to set the accessibility option in Adobe Acrobat helps as you can make the text use the computer's colour scheme (e.g. high-contrast) instead of black text on a glaring white background.
Eye drops of various kinds (prescribed for them by an ophthalmologist) are helpful for them, e.g. artificial tears. Things like this will depend on your exact eye health of course. Eye drops for dry eyes can also be obtained over the counter.
When playing /r/outside they have tinted overglasses, dark brown for sunny days and yellow tint for duller days. They keep the wind and dust out of eyes too.
Making sure their glasses have an up to date prescription helps too as this tends to change over time.
I'm also told shoulder / neck massages help them too, but I'm getting suspicious about those requests.
The VI person I know makes use of a good screen reader / text-to-speech software to listen rather than look where this is practical. Spreadsheets and slide-shows can be just a pain
Having a VI friendly colour scheme on the computer helps them a bit too. Knowing how to set the accessibility option in Adobe Acrobat helps as you can make the text use the computer's colour scheme (e.g. high-contrast) instead of black text on a glaring white background.
Eye drops of various kinds (prescribed for them by an ophthalmologist) are helpful for them, e.g. artificial tears. Things like this will depend on your exact eye health of course. Eye drops for dry eyes can also be obtained over the counter.
When playing /r/outside they have tinted overglasses, dark brown for sunny days and yellow tint for duller days. They keep the wind and dust out of eyes too.
Making sure their glasses have an up to date prescription helps too as this tends to change over time.
I'm also told shoulder / neck massages help them too, but I'm getting suspicious about those requests.
haelaeif [OP] 2 points 5y ago
Thanks. Sorry for the late response.
Damn, I never realised contrast was so awesome, haha. Text to speech isn't so great for a lot of the material I read for work/study, but I'll certainly look into it for casual reading. I wonder if there's any good programs with multilamguage support that won't break my already broken wallet?
As for up to date prescription... Eh... My glasses cost between £300-600 a pair. So I've kind of avoided it. I really just can't afford that presently, and haven't been able to for a few years.
Damn, I never realised contrast was so awesome, haha. Text to speech isn't so great for a lot of the material I read for work/study, but I'll certainly look into it for casual reading. I wonder if there's any good programs with multilamguage support that won't break my already broken wallet?
As for up to date prescription... Eh... My glasses cost between £300-600 a pair. So I've kind of avoided it. I really just can't afford that presently, and haven't been able to for a few years.
vwlsmssng 2 points 5y ago
$1 is available for Android and iOS is not expensive. Unlike standard Voiceover on iOS it will show and highlight the text being read in a way that makes it easy to use your eyes and ears together.
haelaeif [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Thanks! Primarily, though, it's my pc that I need this for. My phone is quickly becoming a useless brick, and even if it wasn't, usually when I'm reading on my phone I'm not meant to be :')
Edit: also, how well to TTS work with pdfs and footnotes and stuff? Would it be better to convert to another format? Ive noticed stuff now 'scans' pdfs for words but often when I copy it over to word or other text processors etc there's errors (especially if I'm doing linguisticy stuff with IPA).
Edit: also, how well to TTS work with pdfs and footnotes and stuff? Would it be better to convert to another format? Ive noticed stuff now 'scans' pdfs for words but often when I copy it over to word or other text processors etc there's errors (especially if I'm doing linguisticy stuff with IPA).
vwlsmssng 2 points 5y ago
If someone gives you PDFs you could ask for the original version if its available in Microsoft Office format. Typically they'll say no, then you'll come back with something about the disability discrimination laws in your country and then they may co-operate.
Converting PDFs to other formats may at best just give you the plain text in whatever order it was originally entered or what the scanning software decided it should be in. At least text to speech will get you some of the way to comprehending the document.
A screen reader should do more than just text-to-speech, they will know something about some of the apps you use and give you additional information, e.g. helping you navigate a page by headings or links.
Here is some free accessibility software
http://www.rnib.org.uk/information-everyday-living-using-technology-computers-and-tablets/free-accessibility-software
I have no experience of NVDA or Window-Eyes that are discussed on the RNIB website above.
Converting PDFs to other formats may at best just give you the plain text in whatever order it was originally entered or what the scanning software decided it should be in. At least text to speech will get you some of the way to comprehending the document.
A screen reader should do more than just text-to-speech, they will know something about some of the apps you use and give you additional information, e.g. helping you navigate a page by headings or links.
Here is some free accessibility software
http://www.rnib.org.uk/information-everyday-living-using-technology-computers-and-tablets/free-accessibility-software
I have no experience of NVDA or Window-Eyes that are discussed on the RNIB website above.
Silverottawa 9 points 5y ago
I invert my screens
B-dub31 3 points 5y ago
This. And TBH, I'm more selective about what I read. I can read just about anything with enough light and magnification, but it is taxing on my eyes.
haelaeif [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Yeah. I think I'll start using TTS wherever I can - but a lot of my material simply isn't parsable by a screen reader (one that knows IPA as well as standard language support would be pretty awesome but I'm not going to get my hopes up there).
ScarReincarnated 2 points 5y ago
Yep, I use this. Also, Chrome has several extensions to make websites “dark mode.”
haelaeif [OP] 1 points 5y ago
This has greatly helped, idk why I never tried this for a substantial period before..
Silverottawa 1 points 5y ago
Glad I could help!
awesomesaucesaywhat 4 points 5y ago
Inverted colors, sunglasses indoors, closing my eyes, eye drops, hot compresses, cold compresses and using voice over when my eyes need a break.
haelaeif [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Never considered eye drops, hot or cold compresses. Will look into them, thanks.
ravenshadow2013 4 points 5y ago
have you talked to your eye doctor about this it may be treatable with different lenses or other things?
haelaeif [OP] 1 points 5y ago
I've not seen a Dr for anything relating to my eyes in 3-5 years (really can't remember), haha..
Maybe I will. But it'll have to wait til summer, cos organisating such things isn't my strong suit..
Maybe I will. But it'll have to wait til summer, cos organisating such things isn't my strong suit..
jogajaja 2 points 5y ago
Hi OP-
I think there are a few things with glasses and lighting that could be changed to help with strain and fatigue. Are you on a computer a lot? As others here have said, adjusting the contrast, using a zoom feature, using text-to-speech, or any combination thereof can give you some relief.
You may also want to experiment with different types of light- lighting your room with lamps instead of overhead lights, using less light, more light, etc.
And, you may want to have either transition lenses or some lenses that have permanent tints to give you some relief.
I think there are a few things with glasses and lighting that could be changed to help with strain and fatigue. Are you on a computer a lot? As others here have said, adjusting the contrast, using a zoom feature, using text-to-speech, or any combination thereof can give you some relief.
You may also want to experiment with different types of light- lighting your room with lamps instead of overhead lights, using less light, more light, etc.
And, you may want to have either transition lenses or some lenses that have permanent tints to give you some relief.
haelaeif [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Yeah. I'm almost always around computers - I literally can't afford books, so I er, borrow pdfs of them - even if I can get the same books for free from the library or if I could afford them, being constantly hunched forward with large textbooks kills my back.
It's mostly natural light atm. My desk has a window above it.. but I really don't like having my curtains shut or near shut all the time. at night I jump between just fairy lights and computer screen to glaringly bright overhead lights. Meant to buy a decent lamp but keep forgetting, and my room is such a mess idk where I'll put it..
I have reactor lenses. I mostly started using them because my pair without them broke (they're heavier, and a little less comfy. Also, they rub against my brow/eye discharge gets on them so they're ALWAYS dirty and smudged, and that's actually one of my main annoyances but idk how to remedy it). But aside from the discomfort, I have grown to appreciate the automatic tint.
It's mostly natural light atm. My desk has a window above it.. but I really don't like having my curtains shut or near shut all the time. at night I jump between just fairy lights and computer screen to glaringly bright overhead lights. Meant to buy a decent lamp but keep forgetting, and my room is such a mess idk where I'll put it..
I have reactor lenses. I mostly started using them because my pair without them broke (they're heavier, and a little less comfy. Also, they rub against my brow/eye discharge gets on them so they're ALWAYS dirty and smudged, and that's actually one of my main annoyances but idk how to remedy it). But aside from the discomfort, I have grown to appreciate the automatic tint.
estj136 2 points 5y ago
Gget use to screen reading and braille and such.
haelaeif [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Will do!
I've been just looking into screen reading.
How economical is it to create long texts with braille? I'm able to read normal books with a magnifier (though I need a better one,I cannot afford a better one + large books are really painful to make notes from that way, constantly being hunched forward. Will ask the NHS over summer about getting the kind of magnifier I had before, atm I'm using one I bought).
I can't read braille, yet, but back in school I'd type documents in braille to help out the VI department (there were two fully blind girls there) + to avoid actually doing my work/people when I was grumpy.
I've been just looking into screen reading.
How economical is it to create long texts with braille? I'm able to read normal books with a magnifier (though I need a better one,I cannot afford a better one + large books are really painful to make notes from that way, constantly being hunched forward. Will ask the NHS over summer about getting the kind of magnifier I had before, atm I'm using one I bought).
I can't read braille, yet, but back in school I'd type documents in braille to help out the VI department (there were two fully blind girls there) + to avoid actually doing my work/people when I was grumpy.
estj136 1 points 5y ago
Hahaha! That’s a good excuse for producing braille. Hahaha! That’s really interesting.
You’d be best if you learn first. Screen reading is pretty good and possible with long text.
Longer books can be more expensive, but if you do it through some sort of school, it’s free, at least it’s here.
It’s definitely possible.
You’d be best if you learn first. Screen reading is pretty good and possible with long text.
Longer books can be more expensive, but if you do it through some sort of school, it’s free, at least it’s here.
It’s definitely possible.
ScarReincarnated 1 points 5y ago
I use glasses that are anti glare, prevents eye fatigue, migraine, eye exhaustion, and eye strain. Works like a charm. In addition they go on top of my prescribed glasses. Great for gaming, but I use it for everything screen related.
NoScope: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014B2YOHM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xRBSAbW5QS828
NoScope: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014B2YOHM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xRBSAbW5QS828
haelaeif [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Seems pretty cool. I have f.lux and such, idk how different such a thing is beyond also filtering out natural light as well? My glasses have reaction lenses, not sure if they naturally deal with glare but ik if I'm sitting next to a window I can be dizzy real fast even with large font, inversion, etc.
Edit' also, do you have any gaming specific tips?
Edit' also, do you have any gaming specific tips?
ScarReincarnated 1 points 5y ago
I play very limited games. No FPS games, i like them, but I can’ play them. Also any 2D scrollers like Old School Mario. Is impossible for me. So, I play strategic card game like Hearthstone. It gives you plenty of time to read, think, and play. The other games are MMORPGs mostly playing World of Warcraft because I love medieval and role playing games. In addition, you can adjust the user interface however you want, allowing many people with visual impairment to play the game.
I sold my PS4, i just can’t play on a TV, so is better for me to play on a PC because you have more control of it.
I sold my PS4, i just can’t play on a TV, so is better for me to play on a PC because you have more control of it.
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