Your Parent Was Just Diagnosed with Vision Loss — What to Do Now

1 Understand the Diagnosis

Ask the eye doctor (or call the office) to explain:

• What condition is it? (Macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts — each is different)
• Is it the dry or wet form? (For AMD — wet requires urgent treatment; dry progresses slowly)
• What's the expected progression? Months? Years?
• What treatments are available?
• When is the next appointment?

Write the answers down. Your parent may not remember everything from the appointment, especially if they were in shock.

Cost: Free (part of the existing medical care)

2 Fix the Lighting

This is the cheapest, fastest improvement you can make. Poor lighting makes every vision condition worse. Good lighting makes everything a little better.

• Get a bright LED reading lamp for wherever they read. Look for "daylight" bulbs (5000K–6500K colour temperature). $25–$60 CAD at Canadian Tire, IKEA, or Amazon.ca.
• Add brighter bulbs to the kitchen, bathroom, and hallways. Shadows and dim areas become hazardous with reduced vision.
• Consider a gooseneck desk lamp they can position right over their reading material.

Cost: $25–$100 CAD total

3 Make Their Phone Readable

Five minutes of settings changes can transform their phone from frustrating to usable.

iPhone: Settings → Display & Brightness → Text Size (drag to largest). Then: Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → turn on Bold Text, Increase Contrast, and Larger Accessibility Sizes. Consider turning on Zoom (a magnifier you activate with a three-finger double-tap).

Android: Settings → Display → Font Size & Display Size (both to maximum). Settings → Accessibility → turn on Bold Text and High Contrast Text if available.

Cost: Free

4 Get a Magnifier for Daily Tasks

Reading books is one thing, but vision loss hits hardest in the small daily tasks: medicine bottle labels, mail, price tags, thermostats, phone numbers.

Start with a simple illuminated handheld magnifier. 3x–5x magnification with a built-in LED light. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, Walmart, or Amazon.ca.

Cost: $15–$40 CAD

5 Set Up Reading

If they're a reader — and losing reading is one of the biggest fears with vision loss — get them set up with options now, while their current vision still works.

• Large print books from the library: Visit their local library and ask about the large print section. Most Canadian public libraries have one. Get them a library card if they don't have one — it's free. See our library guide.
• E-reader: A Kobo Libra Colour (~$219 CAD) with their library card connected to Libby gives them free ebooks at whatever font size they need. Set it up for them — connect Wi-Fi, link their library card, download a few books they'd like. The initial setup is the barrier; once it's done, using it is simple.
• Audiobooks: Install Libby on their phone or tablet. Show them how to borrow and play audiobooks. Free with their library card.

Introduce these while reading with their eyes still works. Learning new tools is much easier when you can still see the screen to some degree.

Cost: Free (library) to ~$219 CAD (e-reader)

6 Contact CNIB

CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) isn't just for people who are fully blind. They serve anyone with significant vision loss, and they should be one of your first calls.

• CNIB Helpline: 1-800-563-2642
• Website: cnib.ca

What CNIB provides (much of it free or subsidized):

• Low vision assessments and referrals
• Technology training (how to use screen magnification, VoiceOver, etc.)
• Peer support — connecting with others who are going through the same thing
• CNIB Library — free accessible format books (audiobooks, digital braille, large text ebooks). Register at cniblibrary.ca
• Independent living skills training
• Employment support (if they're still working)

Cost: Most services free

7 Check Provincial Assistive Technology Funding

If your parent needs more expensive aids — a video magnifier, smart glasses, or specialized software — provincial programs may cover part or all of the cost. This varies by province but is worth investigating before paying out of pocket.

• Ontario: Assistive Devices Program (ADP) — covers up to 75% of some visual aids
• British Columbia: CNIB can help navigate PharmaCare and other programs
• Alberta: Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)
• Quebec: RAMQ visual aids program
• Other provinces: Ask CNIB — they know the programs in every province and can help with applications

The application process can take weeks to months, so start early. CNIB can often help with the paperwork.

Cost: Free to apply; funding varies by province and device

8 Make the Home Safer

Vision loss increases fall risk. A few simple changes reduce that risk significantly.

• Remove loose rugs or tape them down
• Add contrasting tape to stair edges (bright yellow or white tape on dark stairs, dark tape on light stairs)
• Add nightlights in hallways, bathrooms, and between bedroom and bathroom
• Clear walking paths of clutter and cords
• Mark stove dials and thermostat settings with raised bump dots ($5–$10 at Amazon.ca — self-adhesive tactile markers)
• Use a talking clock or large-display clock

Cost: $20–$60 CAD for supplies

9 Install Key Apps

Two free apps that every person with vision loss should have on their phone:

• Seeing AI (Microsoft, free, iOS and Android): Point your phone's camera at text and it reads it aloud instantly. Works for medicine bottles, mail, restaurant menus, signs. Also identifies products by barcode and describes scenes.
• Be My Eyes (free, iOS and Android): Connects you via video call with a sighted volunteer or AI assistant who can see through your camera and help you. "What does this label say?" "Is this the right bus?" Available 24/7.

Install these and show your parent how they work. Practice with a few medicine bottles. When they need them for real, they'll know how.

Cost: Free