“So many books and only two eyes.” I saw a meme with this quote the other day and it reminded me of one of the fears that lurks at the back of my mind. My immediate family history includes two people who had or have macular degeneration. One was my mom, from whom I probably inherited my love of reading. As the macular degeneration progressed, reading became more difficult until she just gave it up. I’ve wondered what I’d do if this happened to me. I’m approaching the age of onset for my other family members. Perhaps it is one of the reasons I read like crazy. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to do so. While giving up driving would be tough, there are days I’m glad not to. I can’t say that of reading.

One article I read said that 3.22 million Americans have a visual impairment. That’s a sizeable enough body of people that there are devices and strategies and support that can help. For those with low visual acuity the keys are light, contrast between print and the background, and the size of the print.

Light. With mild to moderate cataracts, not yet requiring surgery, I need more light than I once did. LED bulbs make this possible at a fraction of the energy we once used. A good reading lamp is more essential than ever.

Contrast. This is where electronic screens that allow us to adjust contrasts are helpful. Black against a yellow or white background or white on black (particularly in low light situations) is helpful.

Print size. This seems to be the biggy. Magnifiers from handheld to sheets to electronic magnifiers that project enlarged text on a screen are out there. Many books are released in large print editions, often available at libraries. The only downside is the size and weight of such books, and often a more limited selection. The advent of e-readers has been a boon for many visually impaired. These allow enlarging font sizes and adjusting backgrounds. I would suggest finding places, whether libraries or showrooms where you can try out devices before buying. Think about usability, weight, and especially the readability of text. Some devices also have read aloud features.

When Low Vision Becomes No Vision. For some of us, we will reach the place where these aids will no longer help. Here are some directions one may take:

Audiobooks. Far and away, this is the best option for many. Local libraries offer these for free (a wait may be required). You will need the app your library specifies. Go visit. They will be glad to help set it up.

NFB-Newsline. The National Federation of the Blind makes audio versions of many national and local newspapers and other periodicals, as well as offering a children’s version.

Podcasts. There are a host of podcasts on every subject that also make for great listening, often with opportunities to hear interviews with authors we like.

Human Readers. This is trickier, but there may be a family member, perhaps even a grandchild who might read, or a friend. Sometimes it could be someone you read to at an earlier time in life who returns the favor. There is an intimacy of the shared enjoyment of a book at any age.

Braille. This is still an option but one that requires training. Your local Society for the blind or similar organizations can help.

Having books read aloud is hardly new. In societies with low literacy rates, this is how most people “read” books and often, especially with good narrators, one may hear things that wouldn’t come across in a visual reading.

It also occurs to me that slowing down, absorbing what we read more slowly, might not be entirely bad.

Recovering the Practice of Memorizing. Many of our forebears had a wealth committed to memory: Shakespearean sonnets or passages of plays, poetry, scripture and more. They carried something of a library in their heads.

Have we staked too much on reading? Reading is not my life, just an enjoyable part of my life. If my sight goes, my faith remains, my relationships remain, hopefully other senses remain and grow sharper, where I can smell the new mown lawn, feel cool breezes and warm sunlight, and savor the different ingredients in a fresh salad. It’s probably a good question to ask ourselves whether we have resources within us to sustain us if we’re not able to take in new ones from without.

So many books and only two eyes. Perhaps it ought to make us grateful to have TWO eyes still able to read, if we do. Perhaps it ought to make us mindful of our reading choices. No matter what, we can’t read everything–but we can dead some good things that enrich us. And perhaps it ought make us mindful of ways to sensitively share that gift with those who no longer enjoy it. I’m not sure we ever outgrow the voice in us that cries, “read me a story!’