Apps may be available on your phone to help you monitor your wet AMD symptoms and assist you with everyday tasks such as reading, texting, and identifying objects.

Advanced neovascular age-related macular degeneration, or “wet AMD,” is a progressive, late form of AMD.

This condition is caused by damage to the macula in your eye due to the formation of abnormal blood vessels. Without a functioning macula, you may not be able to see details, colors, or areas in your central vision as you should.

While wet AMD is the most serious form of AMD, there are still steps you can take to help prevent further vision loss and improve your quality of life. In addition to receiving any treatments an ophthalmologist or optometrist recommends, you may be able to use resources on your smartphone to make everyday tasks easier.

The following types of apps might help with everyday vision needs for you or a loved one with wet AMD.

As part of your wet AMD treatment plan, a healthcare professional may recommend low vision devices such as handheld magnifiers.

You may be able to access similar aids on a smartphone. Depending on your phone’s operating system, these features may already be built in:

  • Magnifier: This app is free on Apple devices such as iPhones. It can help you see small objects and can even enhance and detect doorways, people, and objects. Magnifier is available on devices with iOS 14.4 (released in 2021) or later.
  • Magnifying Glass: If you have an Android smartphone, you may also have access to a free magnifier. Aptly called Magnifying Glass, this app is primarily used for seeing smaller objects and texts. Unlike Apple’s Magnifier, Android’s free Magnifying Glass app also has a flashlight for nighttime vision.
  • Brighter and Bigger: This is another free magnifier available on Apple’s iPad and on Android devices. Unlike the free built-in magnifiers mentioned above, Brighter and Bigger is primarily used for reading small text and nearby objects. It promises a magnification of up to 20 times.

While magnifiers can make text bigger and easier to read on labels, signs, and other everyday objects, reading apps can also be helpful when you have wet AMD.

Reading and typing helpers can dictate text, often out loud. You can use these tools for longer pieces of text, such as letters and documents, as well as books and other items for leisure reading. Some apps may also type for you with the help of voice commands.

Consider the following apps with such resources:

  • Android Accessibility Suite: Offering a variety of features that may help with low vision, Android Accessibility Suite can help with texting and selecting items on your screen to be read out loud.
  • Audible: While the app itself is free on Android and Apple products, you’ll need to buy Audible credits, which you can use to access a wide assortment of books.
  • BARD Mobile: Offered by the Library of Congress, this free app provides access to audio and braille magazines and books via both Apple and Android.
  • Google Lens: Available to Android users, Google Lens uses your phone’s camera to help you identify objects you might not be able to see clearly, as well as to magnify important text.
  • Voice Assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are voice assistants that can be helpful for a variety of tasks, including making and receiving calls, text messages, and emails.

Central vision loss in wet AMD may understandably reduce your confidence in your everyday mobility. However, there are apps you can download that may help detect everyday obstacles, such as doorways, stairs, and ground debris.

The following apps can make mobility easier:

  • Be My Eyes: With the help of 7 million volunteers, Be My Eyes connects your phone with a real person to guide you through everyday tasks and some hobbies. The app is free and available to use on Android and Apple phones or tablets.
  • Supersense: Supersense can potentially help you with reading and exploring your surroundings. But instead of connecting you with a real person, Supersense is AI-powered. While the offerings on both Apple and Android are impressive, some users have pointed to inconsistencies.
  • TapTap See: As the name suggests, you can use this AI-powered app to identify items by double-tapping your screen when you take a picture. This free app is available for both iPhone and Android phones.

When you have wet AMD, your central vision doesn’t work as effectively. This can increase your risk of accidents and falls, which can be even more dangerous if you’re alone.

If you have an iPhone or an Android phone, you may be able to sync it with a wearable smartwatch such as:

If you have any of these smartwatches, you’ll need to manually turn on the fall-detection feature.

Depending on the app, you may be able to set up an emergency contact who will be notified via text or email if your watch detects a possible fall. Some watches also automatically connect you with 911 unless you cancel the call.

While no app should replace regular visits to an ophthalmologist, some apps can help you monitor your eye health at home in between checkups.

Current options include:

  • Eye Patient: This free app offers both vision games and assessments you can use to track any changes to your wet AMD symptoms. It’s available for both Android and Apple products.
  • Odysight: Available for both Android and Apple products, Odysight helps measure your visual acuity at home. This app was designed specifically for retinal diseases, including AMD, and researchers believe it can help users identify possible issues between eye checkups.
  • OKKO Health: Another free app designed with AMD in mind, OKKO Health offers a series of puzzles intended to help monitor vision changes between eye health visits. The goal is to play these puzzles three times per week on your iPhone or Android phone.

The world of apps is growing exponentially, and new vision-related apps may be introduced at any time. But keep in mind that not all apps are created equal, and some claims in an app’s description may not live up to the hype.

If you’re unsure whether a vision app is legitimate, first check its user ratings and number of downloads. If an app has 3,000 or fewer downloads, that’s usually an indication that you should pass it up.

You can also ask a loved one to read through the app’s development history. Apps that have been developed with the help of an eye health professional are usually more trustworthy than those that have had no medical input.

When in doubt, you can also ask your eye doctor for their opinion on any particular app.

Wet AMD is a progressive condition that can significantly reduce your vision and interfere with everyday tasks. While trendy new vision technologies are on the rise, such devices can cost several thousands of dollars, which means they’re inaccessible to many people.

However, there are some lower cost (or even free) apps that you can download onto your smartphone. These apps can help with everyday tasks, such as seeing objects and reading text, and can potentially increase your independence by helping you detect your surroundings.

While these apps are not guaranteed to work for you, you might consider testing out one app at a time with a loved one to determine whether it helps with your wet AMD needs.

When paired with wet AMD treatment, these apps may significantly increase your quality of life.

It’s also important to talk with your eye doctor about any vision or mobility apps you’re thinking of using. They may be able to direct you to free or reduced-cost resources to meet your vision care needs.