Medication Management for Blind & Low Vision: Tips, Tools and Safety

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Managing medications and eye drops safely is essential for everyone, but it can be especially challenging for individuals who are blind or have low vision. From identifying pills to keeping track of dosages and administering eye drops, small adaptations can make a big difference in independence and safety. This guide brings together practical tips, labeling strategies, adaptive tools, and pharmacy resources to help you take control of your medication routine with confidence.

Labeling Medications

You can label your medications by using any of the following methods:

Ask your pharmacist to place a large print label on your prescription container. You can also request large print instructions.

Use a weekly or daily pill organizer. These boxes, which are plastic with a section for every day of the week, are often helpful. They come with large-print labels, but make sure the print is a contrasting color—black print on a white label, for example. Pillboxes also come with tactile labels. Ask a friend, family member, or home health aide to fill your pill box. There are also talking pill organizers available.

Bottles can be labeled in braille or large print using Dymo or label-on tape. Also, the first letter of the medication name can be written in white glue or a 3-D pen (also known as a Hi-Mark Tactile Pen) on the lid. When dry, these raised markings can be read with the fingertips.

Low-vision devices like magnifiers are the most popular method for reading labels and pill boxes. Magnifying pill bottles fit all standard prescription vials.

Use rubber bands to differentiate medications that are stored in separate containers.

Use rubber bands to keep track of your daily dosage of a medication. For example, place rubber bands around the bottle or container equal to the daily dosages you take of that particular medication. Remove one band each time you take the medication. Replace the bands at the end of each day to begin the system again.

If you have three different prescriptions in similarly sized bottles, you can mark the first with one rubber band, the second with two bands, and the third with three bands.

Talking labels are an option. Using a VOXCOM, medication labels are recorded on a card and attached to the bottle. To identify the medication, slide the card through the VOXCOM, and it reads the label aloud. The Talking RX Prescription recorder allows you or someone you trust to set it up. This bottle comes with a recording device to note the contents of the bottle; once recorded, push the button on the side to hear what’s in the bottle. Tel-Rx allows an individual to record up to 20 seconds of information from a prescription label.

Some systems require the pharmacist to set them up, such as Scriptalk, which has new patient software that lets the user get information via audible output, and in braille or large print formats. Participating pharmacies put a small RFID tag on a prescription container. This tag stores all the printed information from the pharmacy label. The patient is also given a free ScripTalk Station reading device. One puts the prescription container on the device to listen to the label data and presses a button. All the label information is spoken clearly. If braille access is desired, the user can connect the Station to a computer and braille display. The computer accesses the information as an electronic file and sends the data to the braille display. This same application works for large print or screen magnification on the computer.

Organizing Medication

Before implementing a labeling system, try using any of the following organizational systems:

Whenever possible, keep medication in the original bottle or container.

Organize your medications in alphabetical order.

Separate your medications by location: keep breakfast pills in the kitchen and evening pills on the bedroom nightstand.

The size and shape of a pill can help with identification. Practice feeling different pills until you can recognize and differentiate them.

The size and shape of some containers may be enough of a clue to help you recognize them. Some over-the-counter medications—certain brands of cough syrups and topical creams, for example—are recognizable by their unique shape, size, or texture.

If there are no children in your home, ask your pharmacist for a conventional pill bottle instead of the child-proof variety.

Ask your pharmacist to place your medications in a blister package to help keep them organized.

Separate medications you use infrequently from those you take every day.

Place each medication on a separate shelf in the medicine cabinet. (This method is not advisable for people experiencing memory problems.)

Use a dark-colored tray when organizing medications. The contrast with the medication containers will help with identifying them. Also, a tray’s raised edge can prevent dropped pills from rolling onto the floor.

Maintain a listing of your current medications and dosages. Include all vitamin supplements and over-the-counter medicines.

Keep all medications away from excessive sunlight, heat, and humidity, such as in the bathroom or on a windowsill in your kitchen.

Dispose of old or outdated medications promptly.

Talk to your pharmacist about best practices to help you access your medications safely and accurately.

Do you find it challenging to administer eye drops as a person who is blind or low vision?

One of the reasons people cite for not following a prescribed treatment regimen of eye drops is that it is difficult to administer them, or the drops themselves are irritating.

One tip is to keep your eye drops refrigerated. By doing so, the drops themselves will feel cool and soothing to the surface of your eye when you use them. Also, you can feel the cool drop as it falls into your eye versus onto your skin. This way, you are sure the drop has in gone in your eye and not on your cheek.

Individual putting eye drops in their eye

More Tips

Initially, you might want to practice these techniques with artificial tears instead of using your actual eye drop medication.

Wash your hands before putting in your eye drops.

If the instructions say, “Shake well before using,” this is the time to do it.

Tilt your head back – sitting on a chair or couch and resting your head on the backrest may be helpful.

Hold the bottle in with the first three fingers of your dominant hand and hold it upside down.

Place it as close as possible to your eye. However, be careful not to let the tip of the dropper touch any part of your eye. Make sure the dropper stays clean.

With your non-dominant hand, use your ring finger to pull down your lower eyelid. This forms a “pocket.”

Place the prescribed number of drops into the lower eyelid pocket. If you put in more than one drop, wait at least two to five minutes before putting in the next drop. This will prevent the first drop from being washed out by the second.

Close your eye or press gently against the lower lid near your nose lightly with your finger for at least one minute. This will help keep the drop in your eye and prevent the drops from draining into the tear duct, which can increase your risk of side effects.

Close your eyes gently and wait a few moments.

Gently blot around your eyes to remove any excess.

Adaptations to Help with Eye Drops

The Autodrop Eye Drop Guide holds the eye open and directs the drop, allowing for accurate dosage. It is easily attached to any eye drop bottle. The attached cap closes the bottle when not in use. The Autodrop is reusable after cleaning. It is available from Maxiaids.com.

The Autosqueeze Eyedrop Bottle Squeezer adds “levers” around the bottle to make squeezing easier and more controlled for persons with reduced grip strength, arthritis, or injury. The Autosqueeze fits snugly around the neck of most small plastic dispensing bottles, does not interfere with the cap opening and closing, and transfers easily to other bottles when needed. It is available from Maxiaids.com.

Additional Information

For more information on managing various medications after vision loss, please refer to the Medication Management section.

For patient-centered information about glaucoma detection, treatment, and everyday management, see VisionAware’s Guide to Living with Glaucoma and Guía del Paciente: Vivir con Glaucoma.

Talking to Your Pharmacist

Not being able to read the information on prescription medications is a particularly dangerous problem for individuals who are blind or low vision. Federal legislation included provisions that mandated the establishment of national best practices for retail and other pharmacies to provide accessible prescription drug labeling to customers who are blind or low vision. This includes proper dosage, the name of the medication, and accompanying information about possible side effects. The US Access Board was charged with developing best practice guidelines for pharmacists, including advice on delivery methods for providing accessible prescription drug container labels. Please share with your local pharmacist.

Accessible Pharmacy–Designed for Patients

Contact Accessible Pharmacy at 215.799.9900, at https://www.accessiblepharmacy.com/, or on the Be My Eyes app specialized help section.

It is a mail-order pharmacy designed for individuals who are blind or low vision.

They provide phone and video education/ medication identification through the Be My Eyes app.

Ask about packaging options.

They can supply CGMs (Freestyle Libre and Dexcom 6) and Prodigy talking glucometers.

They provide service animal medications.

Pharmacy Resources

Best Practices for Pharmacists

The National Eye Institute offers: Five Simple Solutions for Managing Your Medication

Accessible Devices for Managing Medications with Low or No Vision

With the right tools, organization, and support, managing medications and eye drops can become a routine that is both safe and empowering. Whether you use large-print labels, talking devices, tactile markings, or specialized dispensers, these strategies help you stay independent while ensuring accuracy and peace of mind. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your pharmacist or specialized services like Accessible Pharmacy for personalized guidance and support—your health and independence are worth it.