Using Contrast: Strategies for Life, Living Well With Vision Loss

By Donna LeBlanc and Renee Man, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
March 1, 2008

For those who have vision loss, good contrast can make the difference when it comes to seeing better and being independent. In fact, when we think about it, all of us can see better when there is good contrast and lighting. For example, did you ever go to garage sales on a weekend or shop where signs are handwritten? The signs with large letters and high quality contrast are the easiest to read, whether a sunny or cloudy day, rather than the signs with small, crowded letters and poor contrast. For good contrast while reading or writing, black on white or black on yellow with large print works best.

Contrast can be beneficial for activities of daily living. In the kitchen, it is easier to pour black coffee in a white cup rather than trying to pour it into a dark colored cup. The difference between the dark color of the coffee and white light color of the mug will increase your ability to see when the cup is almost full. When it comes to kitchen equipment, some people choose to own two cutting boards, a black one and a white one. Use the black cutting board for light color foods such as chicken, onions, or potatoes and the white cutting board for darker foods like beef, eggplant or red peppers. Along the same lines, serve chicken and potatoes on a dark plate to make them easier to locate.  If you have a darker color vegetable such as peas or beans they can be served in a white bowl on the side.

You can take it one step further by setting your table to maximize contrast. A table set with white dishes and white napkins on a white table cloth or placemat is hard for a person with low vision to distinguish. But a table with white dishes on a solid color tablecloth or placemat, especially if the color is darker such as cranberry red, navy blue or forest green, is easy to see. You need not buy entirely new sets of dishes. Just having a few pieces in both a light color and a dark color can give you flexibility and results.

Contrast can be useful in other areas as well. A large button telephone with either black on white or white on black numbers is easier to see and use. For telling time a large black and white wall clock, especially if it is lowered to eye level, is less difficult for people who have lost a significant amount of vision.  Replace watches that have small, hard to see faces and numbers with watches that have a larger face and numbers in black and white. Talking watches and clocks are also available. For your banking needs, yellow checks with black writing in large print can be ordered from the customer service department.

Using contrast to your advantage is a simple and inexpensive way to make activities of daily living more manageable.  In our next column we will discuss how good lighting combined with contrast helps everything to be more visible.

Perkins Outreach Services for Ages 55 and Older, Outreach@Perkins.org, 617-972-7643