| If you have Multiple Sclerosis, you without a doubt | | | | you can maintain that precious independence of |
| have at least some occasional bouts of low vision. | | | | reading and writing. Yes, even during those |
| It is rare for anyone with Multiple Sclerosis to | | | | low-vision periods you can read that morning |
| escape this often-terrifying limitation. An | | | | paper or treat yourself to a new magazine. |
| encounter with vision problems of some sort is | | | | There is an ongoing list of aids geared specifically |
| usually what signals a problem that begins the | | | | for low vision problems due to symptoms from |
| journey into a sometimes-tedious ordeal of a | | | | Multiple Sclerosis or other eye diseases or |
| diagnosis of MS. Seemingly simple symptoms such | | | | disability. Below is a partial list of companies that |
| as blurred or double vision, floaters and a dimming | | | | carry magnifiers (small and full page size), kitchen |
| of or loss of color recognition can more than just | | | | aids (measuring utensils), talking aids (clocks, |
| disrupt your life. It can leave you feeling like a | | | | calculators, scales, prescription bottle identifiers), |
| helpless victim, unprepared and very frightened. | | | | writing guides, dimensional paint and large print |
| Suddenly, your lifetime enjoyment in jotting notes | | | | recreational items like cards and dominoes for a |
| and letters to friends and loved ones and reading | | | | start. |
| your morning paper or a book every now and | | | | Since there can be wide differences among those |
| then, just became more complicated - even | | | | with Multiple Sclerosis, only you can be the judge |
| impossible and these are just the things you look | | | | of what you need. Sit down with a friend and |
| forward to doing. Just think about how dependent | | | | make a customized list of the limitations that are |
| we are on our eyesight. Because we can see, we | | | | unique to you. Then add what you think would |
| don't bump into walls and other obstacles. There | | | | make the specific limitation easier. Don't try to do |
| are traffic and street signs with particular colors | | | | this quickly. Take a week and make a project of |
| that are important for us to be able to not only | | | | it. You want it to be an accurate picture of your |
| see but also recognize for the safety of others | | | | needs. Now, with that information as your tool, |
| and ourselves. | | | | begin to look around for the type of "low vision" |
| Many of these MS-related symptoms are | | | | aid you need in the marketplace. It probably |
| considered minor and are usually temporary. | | | | exists. Just keep at it until you find it. Don't just |
| Compared to the more serious symptomatic | | | | stop living because of a low vision limitation. |
| vision problems that could occur with MS, these | | | | Taking advantage of the available living aids is one |
| tend to come and go with episodes triggered by | | | | big productive step around a limitation. Many |
| excessive stress and or high temperatures due to | | | | times, you have to work to keep what you have. |
| weather, hot tubs, showers or saunas. Though | | | | Just remember how important seeing is to you |
| minor, their arrival can cause confusion and | | | | and let it propel you ahead to find what you need. |
| sometimes even safety issues. This precarious | | | | Care4u-store.stores.yahoo.net/reading.html |
| situation is not altogether impossible to deal with. | | | | Amazon. |
| With a little help from specialized low-vision aids, | | | | |