It’s that time of year! Time for the AMDF annual gift guide for people with macular degeneration.
Before we dive into recommendations, let’s go over some basics.
Macular Degeneration doesn’t cause complete blindness, but at its most severe, a person can experience near total central vision loss. There is actually quite a broad spectrum of how much macular degeneration affects vision. Some people can have macular degeneration for many years before vision loss is significant. Some people may only have severe vision loss in one eye, but retain good vision in their other eye. And some people can experience a rapid deterioration of vision in both eyes.
Many of the items here are best for someone experiencing early mild to moderate vision loss.
For more advanced and severe vision loss, vision aids should be personalized by a professional low vision occupational therapist.
No matter the level of vision loss, your loved one with macular degeneration is otherwise no different than they ever were, or from anyone else. They, like everyone, want gifts that are meaningful, and/or useful. The best gift is the one that makes the recipient feel understood and loved.
Our recommendations are based on products that we see or hear about that can be useful to someone with macular degeneration. We favor products that foster connection, cognitive health, and/or independence. We especially favor products that support dignity, and we particularly love beautiful, inclusive design for that reason. One of our favorites from last year was the Eone Timepiece – an absolutely stunning example of how accessibility aids can (and should) be attractive and elegant.
We believe that everyone with macular degeneration deserves to live a full life, just like anyone else.
So let’s jump in!
*Disclosure: Many links below are Amazon Associate links. When you purchase a product through one of these links, Amazon will share a small commission with AMDF. In other words, your Amazon purchases will benefit AMDF and the community we serve at no extra cost to you! We only share products we believe to be of benefit to people with vision loss from macular degeneration.
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION
No gift guide would be worth its salt without stocking stuffer recommendations! Here are a few standouts we like.
CleanLogic Products
We recently ran across Cleanlogic’s story, and there’s much to love. From low vision packaging (braille), to the company’s commitment to reducing the unemployment rate for the visually impaired and all disabilities, to all product’s being made here in the U.S., to the personal stories of the founders, and to the non-profit founded in 2006 by co-founder Isaac Shapiro in honor of his mother ‘Bea’ who lost her vision at the age of 7. The Inspiration Foundation offers multiple annual low vision tech grants to organizations that serve the visually impaired community.
In short, when you buy from Cleanlogic, you’ll be supporting low vision in multiple ways. There are many products to choose from. We like the Cleanlogic Sport Exfoliating Face & Body Grooming Mitt 3-Pack because it’s a wearable mitt that will reduce dropping during showering, but if it DID drop, the dark color would create contrast against the typical light-colored tub or shower, making it easier to locate for someone with vision loss.
Amazon associate link below. Please pardon the small image size! It’s a frustrating design flaw outside our control as the images are “pulled in” through a third party app, and the image size can’t be enlarged on our end. Due to copyright issues we can’t change this. When you click the links you’ll be able to see more, and larger images!
Face & Body Grooming Mitt 3-Pack
Cleanlogic Sport Exfoliating Face & Body Grooming Mitt, Assorted Colors, 3 Count
Buy Now →Slice Safety Cutters
We love when a product that isn’t designed specifically for low vision turns out to be a nifty helper for low vision. The entire Slice line of cutters come with safety features, including finger friendly ceramic blades, that can make opening boxes and packages a bit safer for those with low vision. We like the selection of high-contrast colors for easier identification, we like the ergonomic designs that allow the user to better see where the cutting tip is, we like the safety retractable ceramic blades on some of their products, AND we like that blade replacement will be safer and easier for someone with low to moderate vision loss given the safety ceramic, and again, the high contrast (white blade against black casing if you choose black). Choose from the larger design with ergonomic hand-grip and additional safety feature of an auto retractable ceramic blade, or the micro safety cutter that can conveniently attach to a keychain and is great for boxes, yes, but also for opening food packaging as a safer alternative to scissors or metal blades.
Slice Box Cutters
Slice Auto Retract Box Cutter Ergonomic
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Buy Now → Reverse Color Contrast Playing Cards
By request! A member asked if there were playing cards available that were reversed in color contrast. We found these!
Reverse Color Contrast Playing Cards for Low Vision
Ooelyy Low Vision Playing Cards Big Numbers
Buy Now →TEA AND COFFEE LOVER GIFTS FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION
If your loved one with macular degeneration happens to be a tea and/or coffee lover, these gifts will help them enjoy their hot beverages a little more safely. Pouring, placing, and picking up are all challenges with vision loss. These products address those issues.
The “Unspillable” Mighty Mug
Spills are a “thing” with low vision. We like that this mug is available in dark colors for higher contrast, but even if your loved one bumps this mug, it claims to “grip when hit, lifts for sips”, and to be untippable.
Can’t Tip This Mug!
Mighty Mug | The Untippable Mug In Matte Black
Buy Now →The Uccello Tilt-in-Space Steady Pour Kettle
This nifty kettle design for people with tremors or weakness can also be useful for low vision. Notice the high-contrast black and white design! When paired with a mug grip or non-slip mat and a pour indicator, this can be a safer alternative to a hand-held, stovetop kettle. Order the kettle directly from Uccello here.
While this is the option recommended by occupational therapists, at least one user found an auto dispenser like the one below more useful. We chose this one because of higher contrast colors and auto-set buttons for temperature and liquid amount. Add bump-dots to mark default temp and liquid amount to increase low vision accessibility.
Hot Water Auto Dispenser with Presets
Northmas Electric Kettles, Auto-Dispenser
Buy Now →And while we’re on the topic of drink safety, we came across the OptiCoaster while doing research for products, but availability in the U.S. is unclear. We’ve reached out, but in the meantime, you can check them out here. You’ll see on their site that the prices are in Euros, but they also seem to be on the U.S. Etsy site here. The reviews look good. It’s a coaster designed for people with low vision to reduce slips and spills when putting a beverage down.
THE GIFT OF LIGHTING FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION
The general rule of thumb for vision loss from macular degeneration is “Bigger, Bolder, Brighter”. Increasing size (through magnification), contrast, and light all increase visual accessibility. Brighter light is needed for every task, but setting up every room and every space with extra lighting can be expensive, or be too much for other members of the household. Portable task lighting allows someone with low vision to easily bring light with them to any area of the home. There are so many fantastic options for increased lighting, including cordless gooseneck lamps, standing gooseneck lamps with magnification built-in, and more. This year, we’re liking the Ottlite portable task lamp. The ergonomic top handle and folding design make this task lamp more easily portable.
Bonus! Community Member Recommended: AMD advocate and community member Barbara Gilbert wrote in to us to tell us about her “must-have” tool that goes with her everywhere – the Glocusent Book Light. This is a rechargeable, light-weight, flexible neck light that offers hands-free extra task lighting around the home and on-the-go. She also recommends a carrying case for the neck light and charging cord.
Give the Gift of Light!
OttLite Folding Task Lamp, Black
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Verilux SmartLight Full Spectrum LED Desk Lamp
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Brightech Magnifying Floor Lamp
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Case Compatible with Glocusent
Buy Now →NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION
A word to the wise, high-tech solutions are not always welcomed by those with macular degeneration. Sometimes the price tag or the learning curve are enough to turn people off. You know your loved one. Think carefully before purchasing higher ticket tech gadgets and and ask yourself if your loved one enjoys the latest and newest, or the tried and true. Either way, here are some new assistive tech devices that came out in 2023-2024.
The Hable One and Hable Easy
The Hable One is a gadget designed for the visually impaired to enable tactile use of a smartphone. 8 buttons for 150 functions! The Hable Easy is actually designed for people who feel overwhelmed by technology and is meant for beginners, children, and seniors. Tactile stickers are included. Learn more about Hable Easy at their website here.
Glide
We haven’t had a chance to try out Glide yet. It’s so new it’s only available for pre-order. But from our research, Glide appears to be what you would get if you crossed the low-tech white cane and a guide dog. By the way, It’s a misunderstanding that someone needs to be totally blind to use either. If visual impairment is severe enough to limit mobility and independence, then visual guidance in the form of the low-tech white cane, a trained guide dog, or an AI assisted mobility device like Glide, can be a life-changer. Below, a user describes their experience with Glide.
OneCourt for Sports Lovers with Macular Degeneration
Speaking of waiting lists, we had to include OneCourt. OneCourt is the world’s first tactile sports broadcast. Designed for blind and visually impaired sports enthusiasts, it allows the user to experience the game through touch, not just sound. It’s still in development, but if you have a sports fan with macular degeneration, you can get on the waitlist for the home version, AND, you can encourage your local stadiums to make this technology available. Watch the video below for the inspiration behind OneCourt. It’s such a great story!
FASHION THAT EDUCATES
For the loved one with macular degeneration who likes to educate and advocate.
Blindness is a Spectrum Tee
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, blindness is on a spectrum. While macular degeneration won’t lead to total blindness, it CAN eventually lead to legal blindness, or functional blindness. Misunderstandings about this spectrum can lead people to assume that “low vision” is not a form of blindness, or that blindness can only mean that the blind see nothing at all, just black. This attractive T-shirt is a fun and fashionable way to create teaching and advocacy moments. It comes in men and women’s and multiple colors.
A Fashion “Statement” for Low Vision
Blindness Is A Spectrum Low Vision Colorblind Rainbow Blind T-Shirt
Buy Now →A Gift in Their Honor and a Beautiful Awareness Lapel Pin from AMDF
For the giftee who already has everything, a donation to macular degeneration research, education, and awareness in their honor can be lovely. Available with any level of donation to The American Macular Degeneration Foundation, the elegantly designed AMD Awareness Pin was created as a wearable art piece to raise awareness about macular degeneration by sparking conversation. ***Please NOTE: depending on the date of your donation, we cannot guarantee Christmas delivery, but you can creatively tell them it’s on its way in a card, along with the amount you donated in their name.
You can make your donation here, and be sure to check the box that reads, “Please send me a macular degeneration awareness pin.”
From everyone at AMDF, have a happy and safe holiday season! See our gift guides from past years for more ideas!
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