Help for a pianist with deteriorating vision

[exackerly]

I’ve been diagnosed with macular degeneration, and I’m getting treatments that are slowing down its progression. But I do have a blurry spot right at the center of my vision that makes it very hard to read sheet music at the usual distance (since I can’t exactly hold it up to my eyes while I’m playing). If I could somehow get a large magnifier I think it would help, but all the ones I’ve seen you either hold in your hand or lay flat on a table. Does anybody know of one that works for an upright piano? Or anybody with a similar problem that has suggestions.

[keypeg]

Atm I'm stuck with what is said to be a cataract in one eye, so that my glasses have lenses with extremely opposing strengths.  To put on the "piano" glasses, I have to close my eyes, and open them again, otherwise I see double.  Leaps across the center line don't work at all because then I suddenly see double - depth vision is also iffy.  I've started to strengthen memory and proprioception so that I'm relying less on my eyes.  Sadly that doesn't solve your problem.

Would a score on a wide screen, and magnified, with maybe a foot pedal work?

[arda152]

I hope the deterioration stops soon and you still have a vision for the rest of your life.

On the other hand, here is some consolation (seriously):
The only skill you will clearly lose is sight reading new pieces at tempo. If you can find a way to figure out the individual notes, than you can still play repertoire at the same level as before. There are many pianists who are blind but still play magnificently. And check out this short quote from Changs's book (you can find the whole thing free on the internet)

Pianists often close their eyes when they want to concentrate on playing music with high emotional content -- they need all the resources available to produce the high level of music. When the eyes are open, a tremendous amount of information comes into the brain because vision is a three-dimensional, multi-color, dynamic, source of high bandwidth video data that must be immediately interpreted in many complex ways. These data must be instantly processed because we must respond in real time to visual inputs. Thus a large portion of the brain is preoccupied with image processing at all times, not just when driving a car or playing tennis. Closing the eyes frees up this enormous amount of brain power for concentrating on music. Therefore, although most audiences admire that a pianist can play with eyes closed, it is actually easier.

-Fundamentals of Piano Practice, C. Chang

[dogperson]

Two suggestions:

Do a Google search for ‘magnivisor’.  There are several brands:  a headband with a large magnifying field.  I haven’t tried them, but it looks like it may work because it frees up your hands.

Second suggestion:

Berklee  has a program for blind and visually impaired students.  I’m not suggesting you become a student there, but they should be able to discuss some useful tools

https://college.berklee.edu/news/2139/berklee-launches-program-for-blind-and-visually