Episode 1

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Published on:

25th Jan 2026

Episode 1: Can't Read, Watch TV, or Use Your Phone?

Living with Vision Loss Podcast

Episode 1: Can't Read, Watch TV, or Use Your Phone?

Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT

Episode Type: Educational

Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Living with Vision Loss Podcast, certified low vision therapist Dawn Ciccarone answers the most common questions she hears every day in the clinic: How can I read again? How can I watch TV? How can I use my phone? Dawn explains the four key aspects of vision—acuity, visual field, contrast, and glare—and how each one affects your ability to perform everyday activities. Understanding these fundamentals is the first step toward regaining your independence.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

  1. The most common questions people with vision loss ask
  2. Why simple daily tasks become difficult with reduced vision
  3. What visual acuity is and why print size matters
  4. How visual field loss causes parts of words or faces to disappear
  5. Why contrast sensitivity affects your ability to see colors
  6. How glare impacts daily functioning
  7. How treatment interventions address all four aspects of vision

Who Is This Podcast For?

  1. People living with low vision or vision loss
  2. Family members and caregivers supporting loved ones with visual impairments
  3. Friends who want to understand how to help
  4. Healthcare professionals seeking to better understand low vision
  5. Occupational therapists and rehabilitation specialists

The 4 Aspects of Vision Explained

Dawn breaks down the four key factors that affect how people with vision loss experience the world:

  1. Reduced Visual Acuity – Print size needs to be larger than normal to be seen clearly
  2. Visual Field Loss – Parts of the picture, face, or word may be missing from view
  3. Reduced Contrast Sensitivity – Difficulty distinguishing colors; may only see dark print on white backgrounds
  4. Glare Sensitivity – Light interferes with the ability to see clearly

All four of these aspects can be reduced when someone has eye disease, and may need to be addressed for people to achieve their goals.

Common Questions Answered

  1. How can I read again?
  2. How can I go shopping?
  3. How can I watch TV?
  4. How can I play cards?
  5. How can I go to school?
  6. How can I go back to work?
  7. How can I read my Bible?
  8. How can I read my newspaper?
  9. How can I read my phone?
  10. How can I call people on my phone?

Vision Conditions That Cause These Challenges

  1. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  2. Diabetic retinopathy
  3. Glaucoma
  4. Cataracts
  5. Retinitis pigmentosa
  6. Stroke-related vision loss
  7. And other eye conditions affecting daily function

About Your Host

Dawn Ciccarone, MS, OTR/L, CLVT is a Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT) and licensed Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience helping people with vision loss live independently. She works directly with patients in clinical settings, developing personalized strategies to help them accomplish the activities that matter most to them.

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Keywords: low vision therapy, vision loss, visual impairment, occupational therapy, low vision rehabilitation, macular degeneration, glaucoma, adaptive living, independence with vision loss, low vision solutions, certified low vision therapist, visual acuity, visual field loss, contrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity, how to read with low vision

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided on the Living with Vision Loss Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, ophthalmologist, optometrist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast.

Living with Vision Loss Podcast © 2025 | Become More Independent in Your Everyday Life

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About the Podcast

Living with Vision Loss
Helping people with low vision live more independently
I'm Dawn Ciccarone, a certified low vision therapist and occupational therapist, and I created Living with Vision Loss to share something that changed my life: hope.
For over 20 years, I've worked with patients who come to me after hearing nothing but "your vision won't get better." They've been struggling—some for 5 years, some for 20—not knowing that low vision therapy exists or that there are tools, apps, and techniques that can help them read again, regain independence, and live fuller lives.
What is low vision? It's vision that can't be corrected by glasses, surgery, or medication due to conditions affecting the retina—macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and many others. But here's what most people don't know: you can learn to function with the vision you have.
On this channel, I answer the questions my patients ask me every day:

How do I read a book if I'm blind or have low vision?
What devices and apps can help me?
How do I adapt my environment?
What professionals can help me?
How do I maintain independence?

Whether you're a person with vision loss, a family member or caregiver, or a healthcare professional looking to learn more about low vision rehabilitation, this channel is for you. I break down complex topics into practical, actionable information—because no one should struggle in isolation when help is available.
My credentials include certification as a Low Vision Therapist and years of experience as an occupational therapist specializing in vision rehabilitation. I teach at an optometry school, lead technology support groups, and work with patients of all ages—from young people with genetic conditions to older adults with age-related vision loss.
Let's learn how to live with vision loss together.