As people age, the percentage reporting significant vision loss increases. Researchers found that 6.3% of adults aged 65 to 74 reported vision loss, with this number increasing to 7.4% for adults aged 75 to 79 and 9.8% for adults 80 or older.

Vision loss, including central vision loss, which affects the ability to see detail in the center of your vision, profoundly impacts the quality of life for older adults, making it challenging to perform everyday tasks and navigate new environments. Vision loss also increases the risk of falls and can result in feelings of social isolation.

Today, a wide range of assistive technologies are available to address those challenges, increasing independence, improving safety and boosting social connection for people with vision loss.

Eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are two of the leading causes of vision loss in seniors.

AMD is a condition that affects the area of the eye responsible for sharp, central vision. This progressive disease primarily begins later in life causing central vision loss and “fuzziness.” Affecting approximately 20 million individuals in the United States, AMD is expected to affect approximately 288 million people worldwide by 2040.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that progressively damages the blood vessels and tissues in the retina, which can ultimately result in central vision loss. It affects almost one-third of adults aged 40 or more years who have diabetes.

As central vision loss increasingly affects older adults, technology aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults is continuing to advance. Although a wide range of innovative assistive technologies is available, however, only a small percentage of older adults with low vision actively use them. For example, a study of the low-vision exam records of people aged more than 55 from the UCLA Vision Rehabilitation Center found that 90% of people with low vision had a smartphone, yet only 6% used visual assistive apps.

Low utilization of assistive technologies among older adults is attributed in large part to a lack of awareness. Staff at senior communities and assisted living communities can boost the use of assistive technologies by increasing awareness and creating opportunities to educate seniors about the options available that can help improve their independence and quality of life.

With approximately 76% of US adults 65 and older owning a smartphone, there is a great opportunity for seniors with vision loss to use downloadable accessibility apps.

Smartphone apps designed to help older adults with central vision loss and other visual impairments include apps such as TapTapSee that use image recognition technology to identify items in smartphone pictures and videos; Seeing AI, which can narrate what’s around you; GPS apps such as BlindSquare provide turn-by-turn navigation; and many more.

As computing, camera and battery technology become smaller and more effective, wearable assistive technology for older adults with low vision has become a more comfortable reality.

Today, lightweight low-vision devices such as eSight Go are designed to address the specific needs and navigational challenges faced by individuals with central vision loss.

Equipped with advanced camera and display technology, wearable devices can deliver high-resolution imagery in real time, allowing users to synthesize images and see with clarity. Those devices are further enhanced with magnification capabilities and other customizable settings to suit unique needs. This technology allows older adults with central vision loss to recognize faces, engage in activities such as reading, and navigate surroundings more confidently.

Text-to-speech software such as LyriQ converts written text into spoken words, helping older adults with visual impairments access more information. The AI powering many of those technologies delivers fast and accurate reading capabilities which allow users to more easily scan and listen to a wide range of text formats, from printed books to digital documents.

Assistive technologies can significantly improve the quality of life for older adults with central vision loss, promoting greater independence while enabling them to move around more safely, and improving their overall behavioral health. Senior living communities have an opportunity to support residents by offering community programs and workshops that help them be aware of, learn about and effectively use assistive technologies that can improve residents’ everyday lives.

Roland Mattern is director of sales for eSight at Gentex Corporation.

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The opinions expressed in each McKnight’s Senior Living marketplace column are those of the author and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Senior Living.