Smartphone Apps and Resources for People with Vision Loss or Impairment

Poor vision is frustrating and can mean anything from trouble seeing things up close to loss of central vision to complete blindness. It afflicts people of all ages, especially seniors. Interestingly, age-related vision impairment may become noticeable in a person's early 40s. That's because of presbyopia, a condition in which the ability to clearly see things up close decreases.¹

Technology is a great help, and it keeps getting better. Accessibility features such as Voice Control, Magnifier, and Zoom are available on most phones and tablets, even those a few years old. The trick is to keep your device and its operating system as up-to-date as possible. Meanwhile, apps such as Google Maps, Be My Eyes, and Seeing AI are just a hop away in your device's app store.

This guide explores a wealth of features and apps for people with vision issues. It also touches on digital assistants such as Alexa and how they work with smart home devices. Last but not least, the guide discusses how senior citizens' loved ones can help them maintain their independence.

Table of Contents

• Built-in Apple Accessibility
• Built-in Android Accessibility
• Standalone Apps for People with Poor Vision
• Smart Home Devices and Apps
• Helping Seniors with Poor Vision Remain Independent
• Vision Loss and Hearing Impairment
• Additional Resources
• References and Footnotes

Built-in Device Accessibility

Your phone or tablet offers accessibility features to help you use the device and many types of apps. However, you need to enable these features; they don't come turned on by default.

Apple Accessibility Features

On Apple devices, you'll find Voice Control, VoiceOver, Siri, Dictation, Zoom, Large Text, and Invert Colors, among others.² To turn them on, go to “Settings” and then “Accessibility.” Most are listed under “Vision,” but a few are elsewhere. For example, Voice Control is under “Physical and Motor.”

Voice Control: Use your voice to fully control your device

• Your voice substitutes for tapping, swiping, typing, and other movements
• Speak commands such as, “Tap Accessibility”
• Customize commands and add new words to Voice Control's vocabulary
• Available only on iOS 13 or later and iPadOS

VoiceOver: Listen to what is happening on your screen such as device battery level, which app your finger is on, and who is calling

• Gesture-based
• Tap an image with three fingers to have it described
• Adjust speaking rate and pitch
• Works with all built-in apps and many third-party apps
• Helps with typing and editing text
• Virtual rotor control facilitates efficient movement through websites and documents
• Braille compatibility

Credit: Apple Support

Audio Descriptions: Get scenes in videos described to you

• Look for/listen for the AD audio descriptions icon
• Description tracks don't come with all videos and movies
• If you don't want AD on by default, set it for a particular video through the video's “Audio & Subtitles” controls

Zoom: Magnify what's on your device screen

• 100% to 1500% screen magnification so users can better see or read emails, pictures, news articles, recipes and much more
• Full-screen and picture-in-picture view with multiple filter options
• Zoom Controller allows quick access to Zoom controls
• Works with VoiceOver

Magnifier: Use a digital magnifier for real-world environments

• Point the camera at people or objects to increase their size or detail
• Take static images to examine at your own pace
• Adjust filters to differentiate colors
• Use flash to light objects

Larger Text, Bold Text, and Other Display Options: Read with your preferred text weight and size

• Read at your preferred size in all Dynamic Type apps, including Mail, Messages, Calendar, Contacts, Notes, Settings, Music and some third-party apps
• Experiment with bold text, dark mode, color inversions, contrast white point reductions, and grayscale
• Apply settings only to zoom windows, if you want

Speak Screen and Speak Selection:
Hear the content of the screen or a selected block of text even if VoiceOver is off

• Find these options under “Spoken Content” in Accessibility
• Use “Speak Screen” to have the entire screen read
• Once it is enabled, tell Siri, “Speak Screen,” or swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen
• Use “Speak Selection,” for text you specifically select to be read out loud
• Get emails, iMessages, web content, and books read to you, and type or edit text
• Adjust dialect and speaking rate
• Have words or sentences highlighted as they are read

Dictation: Speak where you would otherwise type

• Tap the keyboard's microphone button to speak
• Dictate shopping lists, emails, text messages and more
• Punctuate and format text as you dictate

Siri: Do a variety of tasks with a voice-activated assistant

• Place phone calls, send messages, receive directions, and much more
• Ask Siri where the nearest pizza restaurant is and hear the answer read out loud
• Use Siri to turn on/off other features such as Invert Colors and VoiceOver
• Available on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, AirPods, CarPlay, Apple Watch, HomePod, Mac and Apple TV

Check out these accessibility shortcuts: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, Apple Watch and MacOS.

Android Accessibility Features

Accessibility with Android devices is similar to what you get with Apple devices, but there's a bit more with Android. As always, keep your device updated so you have everything recent.

To enable features, head to the Accessibility menu in Settings. If your device doesn't have some of the elements listed below, you may need to download the Android Accessibility Suite. Otherwise, here's a rundown of what is available:³

• Voice Access: Open apps, navigate your device, and edit text—all by speaking.
• TalkBack: This is a screen reader to inform you about what’s happening on screen and to facilitate device navigation. You can access TalkBack through Settings and Accessibility (probably need sighted help) or press both volume keys for a few seconds.
• Select to Speak: Select on screen items to have them read or described aloud. Likewise, point your camera at images or text in your physical environment to have them read or described.
• Switch Access: Use a switch or keyboard instead of a touchscreen to control your device.
• Magnification: Zoom in to make items on your screen appear up to eight times larger.
• Font size and display size: Make your fonts and/or display size larger. Font sizing won’t work on Chrome Android, which has its own settings.
• Contrast and color: Experiment with the options for high contrast text, dark theme and color inversion, and color correction.
• Action Blocks: Action Blocks are useful for some people who have Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, or a cognitive disability in addition to poor vision. Users select a simple picture from the home screen to trigger an action such as booking a Lyft ride or calling a specific friend. This feature works in tandem with Google Assistant.
• Change time to take action: On some apps, messages are visible only temporarily. Give yourself more time by setting a preferred timeout such as one minute or two minutes. Unfortunately, this feature does not work with all apps.
• TalkBack Braille keyboard: Tap your screen to enter 6-dot Braille.
• BrailleBack: If you need combined speech and Braille, BrailleBack works with TalkBack.
• Google Assistant: This digital assistant is better than Siri in most situations. (Fortunately, it can be downloaded onto Apple devices.) Say, “Hey, Google,” to initiate an action. Make calls, send texts, set reminders, look up emails, and much more.
• Accessibility shortcuts: Quickly turn on accessibility features and navigate among apps.

Smart Home Devices and Voice-Activated Assistants

Smart home devices such as light bulbs, window blinds, and security cameras are hugely convenient, especially for people with poor vision. Many of these technologies work with voice-activated assistants and enable folks to do these activities more easily:

• Turn lights on and off
• Lock doors
• Make telephone calls
• Get the time and date
• Watch TV
• Control the heating
• Listen to audiobooks and music
• Set alarms
• Shop online
• Receive weather reports
• Discover who is at the door
• Chat with loved ones
• Get the news

For a simple example, Drop In is available on Alexa-enabled devices. It works like an intercom. Suppose your parents have an Echo Dot speaker in the living room, so you get one, too (or download the Alexa app for your phone). All three of you grant permission for the devices to drop in on each other to open an instant conversation. It's an easy way to check on your parents if they're not answering the phone. Maybe they just fell asleep on the couch.

Lighting is a major safety issue for seniors, particularly those with poor vision. They have a harder time seeing obstacles, navigating the dark, and judging step depth. With certain smart home devices, they can say, “Turn on bedroom light,” when they get up during the night. As they make their way to the bathroom, voice commands such as, “Turn on hall light,” and “Turn on bathroom light,” keep them from falling. On a more elaborate level, you can choose motion sensors that trigger the lights to be turned on. No voice commands needed.

Suppose you have Alexa-enabled devices. To shut down the house at night, one option is to create a routine triggered by the phrase, “Alexa, please shut down the house” (choose whatever trigger phrase you want). After you say it, Alexa executes the routine you previously set up, perhaps to turn off all lights except security lights, lock the doors, and lower the window blinds. Setup of routines is through the Amazon Alexa app.

Let’s take a look at Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri. They’re the big three of digital assistants, but there are others such as Cortana and Samsung Bixby. These voice assistants can work with many types of vacuums, coffee makers, ovens, thermometers, and wall clocks. These are just some of the smart home devices that help folks with poor vision lead independent lives.

Helping Seniors with Poor Vision Remain Independent

Poor vision is a serious safety issue for many seniors, increasing their risk of falls, car crashes, cooking accidents, and medication errors. Luckily, there are ways to minimize the dangers while maximizing independence.

First, everyone involved must understand the cause(s) of the poor vision, any treatments, and the extent of impairment. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says that folks 65 and older should receive a dilated eye exam every one or two years.9 Which interval it is depends on their ophthalmologist’s recommendations. These exams address normal changes in the eyes as seniors age and hopefully catch eye diseases early.

Gradual Vision Loss and Warning Signs that Seniors Need Help

Vision impairment can be extremely gradual. For many people, it begins in the 40s with presbyopia, the difficulty of seeing things up close with clarity. Presbyopia is a normal part of aging but can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, and surgery.

In any case, it's common for people's vision to change so incrementally that it becomes a new normal and seems like nothing much to worry about. This holds true for family members and caregivers, too. If you're with your parents every day, you might not notice the extent to which they bump into things until your far-flung sibling visits.

Even seniors with healthy eyes are likely to experience normal age-related vision loss. Common issues are presbyopia, contrast sensitivity, and difficulty adjusting or focusing when going from a dimly lit to well-lit area (and vice versa).

Now add eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy to the mix. There’s also age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of serious, permanent vision loss among people 60 and older.10 Going to the eye doctor for regular exams is a great way to catch issues early and receive prompt treatment.

In other words, if your loved ones' eyes haven't been checked in years, it's time to get them in for an appointment. Apps and assistive devices are great but do not substitute for medical treatment that could improve your loved ones' quality of life even more. The American Academy of Ophthalmology explains, “The sooner a problem is detected, the more likely it is that treatment will be successful.”⁹

Warning signs that your loved ones need medical help include:

• Falling
• Being involved in a car accident (or in increasing numbers of accidents)
• Reaching for an object but missing it
• Stopping everyday activities such as reading or shopping
• Hesitating when walking or navigating even in familiar environments
• Bumping into objects
• Knocking objects over
• Squinting or tilting their head when attempting to focus

Poor Vision, High Independence

The American Foundation for the Blind and Second Sense have extensive product lists for independent living. These items include measuring cups and spoons, talking blood pressure monitors, pocket-size listening devices, playing cards, sewing needles, and even sock sorters. These products can play a big role in promoting independence among your loved ones. Of course, there’s more you can do. Second Sense emphasizes these steps:12

• Seeing eye specialists for advice
• Understanding the causes of poor vision in your loved one's situation
• Clarifying treatment options
• Getting a letter to serve as proof of legal blindness (a huge help when applying for services)
• Obtaining reduced-fare cards for public transit and looking into local dial-a-ride and voucher cab services
• Enlisting rehabilitation professionals to make changes inside and outside of the home
• Using independent living products
• Enrolling in the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Talking Books program (associated with the BARD Mobile app mentioned earlier)

Medication Tracking

Keeping on top of medications can be difficult, even if your eyesight is good. Poor vision, understandably, interferes even more. Some approaches to take include these:

• Automated medication dispensers offering audio reminders to take pills
• Smart home dispensers
• Scheduled video calls or drop-ins
• Sighted assistance apps such as Be My Eyes
• Magnifiers
• Audio labels such as these from PENFriend
• Tactile aids such as rubber bands, Velcro and liquid tactile markers
• Talking pill reminders

Apps that read small text and scan barcodes are helpful, especially for over-the-counter medications. Experiment with them first to ensure they meet your standards for accuracy, particularly for reading prescription medication information.

Home Modifications

Odds are, your loved one’s home needs modifying to improve safety, enhance lighting, and decrease fall risks. Some changes may be as simple as switching out the air fryer and replacing sheer curtains with window blinds to reduce glare. Ask your loved one’s physician to submit a referral for a home assessment, and check with your state’s department of services for the blind. It can point you in the direction of vision-specific assessments and other services. Check in with aging agencies, too.

VisionAware has a guide on modifying your home room by room (the rooms are listed on the right side of the page). Top tips for living rooms are to:

• Create 3-foot-wide clear paths
• Eliminate clutter
• Reroute wires and cords so they're nowhere near pathways
• Position TVs and other displays for minimal glare
• Go with rounded and padded edges versus sharp corners
• Emphasize contrasting colors and patterns, for example, between the couch and the carpet, and between switch plates and the walls
• Remove low objects such as coffee tables
• Stop using rugs or at least attach nonskid padding or double-sided tape
• Find a place to store everything so there's never hunting for an object
• Emphasize to visitors that they must put objects back where they found them

Poor Vision, Dementia, and/or Hearing Loss

Many folks with poor vision are senior citizens and have concurrent issues such as hearing loss or dementia. If your loved one fits this description, know that you are not alone. There are professionals who can help.

To start, perhaps the best thing you can do is to get medical advice and help your loved one attend regular appointments. Dementia can make hearing and sight issues seem worse than they are. Likewise, hearing and sight issues make dementia even more confusing and frustrating. As the UK Alzheimer's Society says, “Difficulties with their sight could be making their confusion worse.”

Both vision and hearing tests can be adapted to fit a person who has dementia. Medical professionals can prescribe or recommend devices such as hearing aids, whiteboards, magnifiers, handheld telescopes, and video magnification. These devices may be easier for some seniors to use than smartphone apps.

Apps for People with Poor Vision

All in all, there are plenty of apps for people with poor vision. Ditto for smartphone and tablet accessibility features. That's good news for seniors. The AARP points out that, “smartphone adoption is 86 percent among Americans age 50 to 59 and 81 percent for those 60 to 69. Meanwhile, 62 percent of those 70 and older use smartphones.”¹⁴

Seniors have certainly shown their eagerness for smart home technologies, according to the AARP report. Many want to stay home and age in place and are planning ahead for that. AARP also says that seniors tend not to take full advantage of their devices. Hopefully, more awareness about apps and accessibility features will help.

Additional Resources

Hadley Vision Resources: Android, iPhone, iPad, VoiceOver, Web Browsing and More

AppleVis: Community-Powered Website for Blind and Low-Vision Users of Apple Products

Apple: Favorite Apps for Accessibility

Getting Started 2020: A Guide for People New to Vision Loss

Senior Vision: Over 60 Years of Age

AARP Eye Center: Current Topics, Diseases and Conditions, Surgical Solutions and Eyewear

References and Footnotes

1. Boyd, K. (2020, June 27). What Is Presbyopia? American Academy of Ophthalmology. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-presbyopia
2. Vision Accessibility – iPhone. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision/
3. Android Accessibility Help. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/?#topic=9079844
4. Flament, D. (2019, May 23). Live Visual Assistance: Comparing BeMyEyes and Aira. Second Sense. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.second-sense.org/2019/05/live-visual-assistance-comparing-bemyeyes-and-aira/
5. Sugiyama, W. (2019, October 10). Voice Guidance in Maps, Built for People with Impaired Vision. Google. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.blog.google/products/maps/better-maps-for-people-with-vision-impairments/
6. Accessible Media Inc. (2020, January 22). The Top 10 Must-Have Apps for a Blind Person [Video file]. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjUTLnHVkVk
7. What is Sunu Band? (n.d.). Sunu. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.sunu.com/en/faqs
8. Frequently Asked Questions. (n.d.). The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/faq/#q14
9. Boyd, K. (2020, August 13). Eye Health Information for Adults Over 65. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/seniors
10. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. (2019, October 26). WebMD. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/macular-degeneration/age-related-macular-degeneration-overview#1
11. Migala, J. (2020, January 30). Whom to See for What? AARP. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/vision-problems-solutions.html
12. Ten Ways You Can Help a Family Member or Friend Experiencing Vision Loss. (n.d.). Second Sense. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.second-sense.org/family-friends/first-steps-you-can-take/
13. Sight and Hearing Loss with Dementia. (n.d.). Alzheimer's Society. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/sight-hearing-loss#
14. Kakulla, B.N. (2020, January). Older Adults Keep Pace on Tech Usage. AARP. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/technology/info-2019/2020-technology-trends-older-americans.html#