PEP

I am sorry to hear of your disability. Don't know if this will be of any use to you, but I purchased a pair of 4X magnifier glasses and put them on over my regular glasses, I look silly, but then no one sees me in my sewing room.

Marianna48

My friend is blind in one eye and has difficulty similar to what you have. She bought a sewing machine that has all those new features on it so make life easier for her and it helped her great. But if that is financially a problem I would advise to buy a Daylight lamp. It makes such a difference if you have good lightning with your machine or for hand work. I bought it myself too as I was diagnosed to become totally blind due to diabetes, but it didn't happen to be correct at this time. It still can happen, but not now. But I didn buy myself some extra supplies as magnifing glasses and a daylight lamp. I still use those to my pleasure although I can see better. My eye sight was still correctable with new glasses for this time.

Marianna48

waht also helped is to buy a feet that has a 1/4 "seam guide. That way you can tough it before you start sewing with yoru fingers to se if it lined up correctly and the guide helps to keep the fabric in place. It needs to have an attached edge that stand up a little. there is a lot on the market for bad vision, you just need to find out what works bast for you. Good luck and keep us posted on what you did finally! We can all learn form it again!

OmaForFour

I just had cataract surgery on both eyes and a trifocal lens was inserted. This was 6 weeks ago and I am seeing extremely well already. Dr. says it will take til the end of the year to be completely healed. I am so pleased. GOD IS GOOD!
I would suggest to you to have another Dr. look at the situation. Maybe someone who is a specialist and has more up to date training than you Dr.?
I went to a Dr. who has a clinic that does only these kinds of eye surgery and glaucoma cases. Things of that nature, out of the ordinary realm of treatment.
You do deserve the best. Prayers coming your way!

Corry

I am your age and have cateracts. I am sewing while I can till I can have surgery. I don't have insurance so not sure when that will be. BUT....I enjoy quilting and sewing for now. Hubby put a shop light up attached to the cieling of my sewing room and I have a floor ott light sitting next to my little cutting table. I have one of those plastic shelves on wheels with the 4 drawers sitting next to my chair so I can swivel around and do any pressing or cutting I need to do. My cut and press mat fits just perfect on the top of the drawers and with it on wheels i can scoot it to me or away when I go back to the sewing machine. With the ott lamp next to the drawers and with the shop light from the ceiling I can see pretty well to sew for now.

dungeonquilts

Thanks for posting this reply rapture. I am blind in one eye and it is very hard some days to sew! After I quite being sorry for myself I have learned "no" dark colors" "alot of light" "learn to do alot of feeling" I go slowly, so the good eye will adjust (because doctors can not get the right lens adjusted for the good eye) to what I am working on". Yes, it is difficult...however as the doctor has told me @ least I can see with the other eye...how "lucky" is that I can still motivate around even if it is "slower" I enjoy it while I can... that is my goal! Days that I know are going to be more difficult I just "magnify" this wonderful computer screen & enjoy the quilting board here :) I believe it has been proven that as a wife, Mother, Grandmother & friend we are "strong" creations of God. Yes, on the weaker side there is days that I would like to cry because of my sight problems. The bright side is that this board & some of the tutorials have helped me so MUCH "now how fun is that, I am still learning! Isn't life grand :) Let's be thankful for what we have as we all say prayers to the anniversary date of "911" :)

bearlea

My mom will be 78 next week..she too has macular degeneration and still quilts...the best thing we use for her is a 1/4" foot on her machine to help her to keep the line straigt..and use blue painters tape leading up to the feed dogs even with the 1/4" foot...use a good lighting system so there is no glare on your eyes or machine..we use an ott table lamp so she can move it to keep the glare off her work..as you know the macular works against light....if you use dark colors remember to use white thread...and go slow....you can do it...mom thought her life was over...she felt all she had left was her quilting and if she couldn't see to quilt what was she going to do..she is still going strong at 78..she is no longer allowed to drive but loves to go to fabric stores..she has always be great with color and that has been failing her in the last couple years as she can't make out the colors as well anymore but I have written the colors of her threads on the ends for her so when she appliques she won't put a purple on a blue...and I try be gentle when she looks at a color and says what an odd shade of grey when it is really a beautiful shade of blue...its ok....you have many years left of quilting and will find new inventive ways to make beautiful quilts...and hey today the new wave of quilting is off center or wavy blocks anyway...go with what you can do and have a great time doing it..blessings

madamheather

Clare J. Rowley Greene, out of Phoenix, designed sewing feet for an acquaintance who is totally blind--Creative Feet. They have adjustable guides attached to aid in getting straight seams. Her feet are amazing. Just search Creative Feet on the web and her site will come up.

matraina

How about using an Ott light near your quilting?

misseva

i was recently diagnosed with a macular hole but after much prayer by several churches when i went back the swelling had gone down and there is no macular hole. ptl! dr doesn't know what caused my problem but he's having a new lens made for my glasses since i just got them in feb. right now i'm using an old pair of glasses for driving and a pair i got at the dollar store. i don't need magnification up close in my left eye so i just take the lens out of left side and do close up handwork using the right lens. like fabric_fancy i use the same kind of light/magnifier she uses. only trouble is finding a table that it will attach to w/o falling off. finally used a wooden tv table. i was using a magnifier before my eye acted up on my embroidery - i make my stitches approx 1/8" or less. my prayer for myself was for healing but if that wasn't god's plan then i asked for grace to accept what he had in store for me.