Maybe you’ve noticed that you can no longer see your friends and family clearly. Or perhaps it’s becoming increasingly hard — if not impossible — to drive yourself to your favorite restaurant.

“It can be very frustrating for someone to go through the grieving process of losing their vision, but with a little bit of guidance and training, you can start to adapt,” says Meghan Elkins, OD, an optometrist in Huntington, West Virginia.

Here are a few things you can do to stay social if you have vision loss from geographic atrophy.

To see people more clearly, use your peripheral vision: Shift your gaze so you’re looking at them just slightly off center. And don’t worry, it shouldn’t appear as if you’re not looking at them, since it’s not a drastic difference from how you’ve looked at them in the past, says Elkins.

Fortunately, there are plenty of transportation services at your disposal. Options such as Lyft and Uber allow you to request a ride at your convenience for a fee. You can also check with your local Area Agency on Aging or Rides in Sight, a national nonprofit transportation service, for help finding a ride. Or you can simply make arrangements with a family member or carpool with a friend, both of which also allow you a little extra social time.

Let’s say you play gin rummy once or twice a week in a card club. Or maybe you get together with friends for an occasional bingo night. If you’re having trouble seeing, you may be tempted to throw in the cards (quite literally), but you don’t have to. Instead, ask your playing partners if you can use large print playing or bingo cards, which have larger numbers and letters that are easier to read, says Elkins — or even braille playing cards. You can buy low vision products online at The Low Vision Store.

If you need help going to and from social events, ask a trusted friend or family member to act as your guide, says Elkins. A sighted guide explains what they’re seeing to a person with a visual impairment.

“Having to verbalize something out loud can feel weird at first, but it gives the [person with low vision] a better connection with surroundings and helps them feel more comfortable,” she says. For example, if you need help walking up the stairs, a sighted guide might explain to you that you need to climb three low steps before you arrive on the porch.

You can also work with an occupational therapist to help you navigate around your home and other places. They can also recommend assistive devices to help you get around safely and prevent falls, which can be harder to overcome in older age.

Adjusting to life with low vision can be hard, but having the right support around you can make things a little easier. “There are a lot of communities and nonprofits that you can get plugged in with, so you can spend time with people who also have vision loss,” says Elkins.

Some organizations also have centers for the visually impaired, offer occupational therapy referrals, and lend out tools, such magnifiers and lights that make it easier to read up close or see objects farther away, she says. (They can also help you buy your own equipment.)

To connect with people in your area, check out organizations such as the American Council of the Blind, which offers a Peer Support and Mentoring program. You’ll make new friends and learn something new.

“Just because you’re missing some of your vision doesn’t mean that you have to miss your life,” says Elkins.

• Vision loss from geographic atrophy can have a significant impact on your daily life and lead to social isolation and loneliness.
• Certain tools and strategies, such as using transportation services and asking for help from loved ones, can help you stay socially connected.
• Joining a low vision support group can help you connect with others who understand what life with vision impairment is like, which may help you feel less alone.