How Smart Tech is Empowering My Life with Vision Loss

From an early age my vision was never perfect. As a child, I was extremely short-sighted, and, in my late 20s, I was diagnosed with glaucoma. At the time I distinctly remember the consultant ophthalmologist telling me that if I'm planning to have children, it's unlikely I will see them growing up. While this inappropriate comment remained largely inaccurate, over the next 20 years my vision significantly declined, leading to major lifestyle changes, such as giving up driving and most sports. Despite these challenges, my career in health and fitness thrived. As a fitness coach, educator, and author, I adapted, always looking for ways to stay active and engaged. At the age of 50, I made the hard decision to bring an end to a 30-year career due to significant vision loss and other personal circumstances.

I still remain physically and mentally active, and my love of gymnastics, bodyweight training, and general physical culture continues to grow and keeps me grounded. Alongside this, I look after the consultancy business that my wife and I own, as well as a busy house with our two daughters and dogs.

Over the last decade, I have become more interested in assistive technology for those with vision impairment. More recently, I've been actively exploring the rise of AI-driven technology to navigate the hurdles posed by my own diminishing eyesight, opening up new avenues for independence and empowerment.

From diagnosis to discovery: adapting to change
 

My glaucoma diagnosis brought about new realities. At 27 years old, adjusting to vision loss was not part of the plan, and I spent a lot of time hiding it in an attempt to “fit in.” But as I began to come to terms with it, adjusting meant finding ways to tackle everyday tasks that once seemed effortless. Screen time, once central to work and personal life, became a significant challenge, making simple activities like reading and writing content harder. Initially overwhelmed, I sought out quick solutions that wouldn't strain my finances or my eyes. Simple adaptations such as a larger phone, larger monitor, and large print keyboards helped, but they weren't enough.

In my forties, I travelled extensively for work and soon discovered a new set of challenges. Working from a small laptop meant finding ways to increase font size and using dark mode for better contrast. While navigating through airports, I would take photos of signs and then zoom in on my phone to read them, and when delivering lectures, I reduced my slide content to simple images and diagrams so I could rely less on reading.

While these vision hacks were undeniably valuable, I knew I would need more accessible options as my vision loss progressed that would integrate seamlessly into my life.

My AI-enhanced life
 

Incorporating familiar and readily available technology, like my iPhone, became a game-changer. While customization of home screens may validate your social status, it's an invaluable tool for those with vision impairment. Knowing exactly where your most-used apps are located on your screen reduces error and frustration. Historically, Apple has invested heavily in the accessibility features of its iOS operating system, with essential vision aid settings to increase text size and contrast, and reduce transparency and motion.

Often overlooked and underestimated is Apple's native Shortcuts app, which allows users (with no programming knowledge) to automate tasks, usually with just a single click. This includes sending messages to specific people, dictating notes, or viewing your agenda at the beginning of each day. The development of AI-driven task automation now brings a whole new dimension to automation on your phone with shortcuts, and opens up a world of possibilities for those with vision impairment.

Over the past year, creating AI-driven automations on my phone and computer has transformed several of my daily tasks into manageable routines. Now a single click can scan and read out a printed letter; I can have a long email summarized and read out loud in a few seconds; I can point my camera at a scene and have it described in detail; I can even dictate some rough notes and have them edited to style and formatted into an email, ready to send.

If you own an Apple Watch, these shortcuts can also be triggered from your wrist while your phone is still in your pocket. And if you're like me and struggle to see your watch screen, simply trigger the shortcut with a voice command. My Apple Watch allows me to dictate messages on the go without a screen, providing quick communication without the eye strain.

Last year I invested in a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Glasses. At relatively low cost, this addition represented a significant leap forward. These AI-driven wearables expanded my ability to interact with the world hands-free. Voice control allowed me to make calls, send messages, capture photos, or play music without reaching for my phone, which once again stayed conveniently in my pocket. This hands-free freedom is revolutionising my daily routine, proving that assistive technology need not be prohibitively expensive to be effective.

Balancing technology and humanity
 

While AI enhances my independence, it doesn't replace human support. Technology and community create a holistic system where one complements the other. Be My Eyes is a real-world example of this, linking technology with human assistance. This community-based app links more than 7 million volunteers worldwide with over half a million blind and partially sighted people. This free app can be used to call a volunteer any time and get live visual and verbal help with everyday tasks, such as reading a food label at the supermarket or choosing the right colour clothes. All that is required is to point your phone camera and talk, and if you are wearing Meta Glasses, then the volunteer can see everything through the built-in camera as you see it – no need for your phone. This level of integration showcases the powerful synergy between digital innovation and compassionate support. While these tools bolster autonomy, connecting with others who share similar experiences remains invaluable.

Empowering the vision-impaired community
 

The potential of accessible technology is vast, and I encourage others to explore how these innovations can fit into the context of their own unique set of circumstances. Patients and healthcare professionals should seek out these tools, becoming advocates for widespread adoption. By doing so, the vision-impaired community can harness technology to navigate daily challenges more effectively. I've found solace in simple, effective strategies that, when combined with readily available and low-cost devices, can empower us to lead richer lives.

Looking ahead
 

The future of AI in our lives is bright. By integrating technology into daily routines, we can alleviate many challenges posed by vision loss. My journey shows that innovation leads to empowerment, inching us closer to independence and resilience. As technology advances, let's champion these tools and support each other in unlocking their endless possibilities.