13 Practical Tips for Navigating Work, Driving, and Daily Tasks With Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

Living with diabetic macular edema (DME) can make the world feel like a blur, but a few adjustments can help you continue to work, drive, and manage your daily tasks independently.

DME affects your central vision. This results in lower contrast sensitivity, making objects blurry and difficult to distinguish from their background. For example, it may be difficult to see and cut a white onion on a lightweight cutting board.

The following tips can make everyday tasks easier by adding contrast:

• Apply contrasting tape to the stairs, including the edge of each stair.
• Choose a light-colored cup for dark liquids.
• Place a dark rug in a light bathtub.
• Use a dark cutting board for light foods and a dark board for dark foods (some have a light side and a dark side in one).
• Use darker switches on light-colored walls.

Consider these light adjustments to reduce shadows and increase contrast:

• Install LED strips under cabinets and rope lighting along baseboards.
• Place a task light next to or behind you, opposite your writing hand.
• Switch to daylight bulbs.
• Use motion sensor lights in closets.
• Use smart devices to schedule automatic light activity.

Your vision may be blurrier in the morning. Before you settle in for the night, make sure you have a clear path between your bed and your bathroom for the morning. Keep your glasses and phone close at hand. Consider a sound-controlled lamp so you don’t have to search for things or get up in the dark.

Use large or bold fonts for your:

• Calendar
• Check the registry
• Clock or watch
• Container or bottle labels
• Medication labels (some pharmacies do this upon request)
• Weekly pill organizer (some also have raised dots)

Consider using the following touch tools to avoid relying on your eyes on low vision days:

• Mark your clothes with safety pins by color, like a pin to label black pants.
• Place bump points on thermostats, remote controls or hangers.
• Use 3D pens to label containers with raised lines.
• Use different amounts of rubber bands to distinguish between similar bottles, such as one rubber band on the shampoo and two on the conditioner.
• Use handwriting guides.
• Wrap bottles or stored items in textured fabric or pouches.

Visual aids like handheld magnifiers, including the one built into your phone, can help you read fine print like menus or labels while on the go. For longer reading sessions, stand magnifiers with built-in lights can be useful. Video magnifiers (video surveillance systems) magnify text and images on a screen, making detailed tasks or hobbies easier.

Voice-to-text technology can help you dictate messages or emails. You can also ask your phone or tablet to read articles and books aloud while you rest your eyes. Voice-activated assistants on your phone or smart speaker can set reminders and timers. Some can also voice control smart home devices, such as thermostats and lights.

You can also try talking equipment with the following:

• Blood pressure monitors
• Clocks
• GPS systems
• Kitchen scales
• Liquid level indicators
• Medication labels (ask your pharmacy)
• Measuring tapes
• Thermometers (medical or kitchen)

Consider apps that connect you with volunteers for real-time help identifying medications, reading labels, or navigating unfamiliar spaces.

Your computer, phone, and tablet likely have free accessibility settings that allow you to:

• Enable screen magnification
• Increase the text size to at least 16 points
• Adapt the screen brightness to the room around you
• Increase your display scale to 125-150%
• Enable dark or high contrast mode

Consider adding a matte screen protector or tinted computer glasses (prescription or non-prescription) to reduce glare on digital screens.

Diabetic macular edema can reduce your ability to see subtle differences in color, making your wardrobe a source of frustration. These tips help take the guesswork out of choosing your outfits for the day:

• Install motion-sensing and daylight LED lights in your closet.
• Put pre-matched outfits on the same hanger.
• Use colored hangers, such as red for work shirts and blue for casual shirts.
• Use color-identifying apps, devices, or QR codes that describe colors out loud.
• Use white hangers for dark clothes and black hangers for light clothes to help you see the neckline.

DME can make driving dangerous by affecting your ability to see road signs, judge distances, and deal with glare. Try these tips for safer driving:

• Avoid driving at dawn, dusk and night when contrast is lowest.
• Keep your windshield spotless.
• Plan your runs when the sun is out (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
• Wear contrast-enhancing lenses or polarized sunglasses.

Certified driving specialists can evaluate your driving and recommend suitable equipment to improve safety.

Consider exploring alternatives to driving, such as public transportation, carpooling, community shuttles or delivery services, on low vision days or if you need to stop driving.

The following workplace or workspace adjustments can make your workday easier and safer:

• Audio tools
• High contrast keyboard
• Large computer screen (27-32 inches)
• Documents printed in large print
• Safety features, such as an evacuation partner or a touch map
• Touch systems
• Work lighting

Stable blood sugar levels help reduce fluctuations in vision and can slow the progression of DME. To support your eye health:

• Check your capillary blood glucose (CBG) and take your medications as directed.
• Get a comprehensive eye exam every year.
• Keep your hemoglobin A1C close to seven or whatever number you and your doctor have discussed.
• Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels within your target ranges.
• Avoid smoking.

DME treatment often involves anti-VEGF injections, which can make your eyes look grainy or blurry for 24 to 48 hours. Consider planning these days in advance by preparing meals, downloading audiobooks, and having someone drive you home after your appointment.