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I am looking for some advice from painters that have some form of problem with their sight (partially sighted etc).

I have a problem with my eyesight, that means I have trouble focusing on items, also my depth perception is all screwed up (always fun putting the cap back on my X-Acto knife  ). I wear glasses, but they cannot fix the problems.

What I want to ask is, do you do anything or use anything that helps you paint better? I have used a magnifying glass, but don’t find it helps and sometimes gets in the way.

I love painting miniatures, but recently feel I can no longer do it, but don't want to give up hope just yet.

Thank you in advance for any help anyone can give me.

I can empathise.

Firstly I always start with a white undercoat and then a thinned-down black wash. Use something like Baddab Black (or whatever it's called these days) or Army Painter wash (either Dark or Strong).

This base gives me the definition I need to help paint.

I also tend to use very thin paint as the main colours - almost like a wash. Use 10 parts wash of appropriate colour, 2 parts normal paint and 1 part extender.

The original wash keeps the recesses dark and the fluidity of the paint leaves highlights.

I then use the magnifying light/lens thing just for final detail.

Hope this helps - it did for me!

Hey bud,

I'm an optometrist, care to share more about the details of your condition and I'll see what I can do (pm me if you're happier doing that) depending on why he depth perception is iffy might alter how to tackle it.

Tris

No worries, I have no problems sharing what it is here.

It is a condition called keratoconus (every time I hear it or think it, I always think of Kerry Katona) it is where the collagen in my eyes have become too weak to keep the cornea in shape. This allows the cornea to bulge out and you loose the ability in the eye to focus.
My right eye has become as bad as can be, meaning that no focus at all and everything is just one big blur, My left eye, I have triple vision. But as I am really only using my left eye to see anything, it gets strained quickly.
The only chance I have to get my sight back is with cornea transplants.
I think the depth perception is mostly down to vision only in one eye.

Probably more info than needed, but always better to give it all than just small bits

No thats perfect buddy. That sucks to hear, have you been put on the transplant list? Also an rgp/scleral contact lens would probably help the left eye, they help to mitigate distortion from the cornea by allowing the lens to create a smooth regular curve and filling in the gaps with your tear film.

Now painting tips: a decent lighting rig, you want a daylight quality bulb and you may want to use a diffuser to reduce any glare of shiny surfaces. You should find this will help with visual fatigue as well as just making it clearer.

The depth perception can only be rectified by the surgery sadly, although the depth perception should improve as the brain is incredible at adapting to being monocular.

If you go the contact lens route you can always try some ready reader glases over the top, a low add around +1.00 might help to aid focussing up close. Usually there's a few and you can just try them on to see which feels most comfortable.

Try and paint against a surface you can brace your hands against as it should below the depth perception side of things