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Be My Eyes: How Technology Lends Sight and Independence to People with Thyroid Eye Disease

Living with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) involves a constant struggle that extends far beyond managing the underlying condition itself. The visual symptoms—such as double vision (diplopia), blurring, extreme light sensitivity (photophobia), and distorted depth perception—can transform everyday tasks into monumental challenges. Reading a label, choosing a matching outfit, or even navigating a grocery store can become sources of immense frustration and dependence. In this context, technology emerges as a critical ally, and few tools are as direct and human-centered as the Be My Eyes application. This innovative platform is not just another app; it is a global community that connects people with vision loss to sighted volunteers through a simple live video call. For a patient with TED, Be My Eyes can be a bridge to autonomy, confidence, and a significantly improved quality of life.

What is Be My Eyes and How Does It Work?

Be My Eyes is a free mobile application for iOS and Android, founded in Denmark in 2015 with a simple yet powerful mission: to allow people to lend their sight to those who need it. The process is seamless and user-friendly:

  1. The User Requests Help: A person with low vision needs assistance with a task. They open the app and tap a single button to request help.

  2. A Video Call is Initiated: The application sends a notification to its network of millions of volunteers worldwide who speak the same language as the user. As of 2024, the community has grown to over 7.5 million volunteers (1).

  3. A Volunteer Answers: The first available volunteer accepts the call, establishing a live, one-way video connection (the volunteer can see what the user's camera sees, but the user remains private).

  4. Real-Time Assistance is Provided: The user points their phone's camera at what they need to see. The volunteer, through the video feed, describes what they see and guides the user to complete the task.

In addition to its network of volunteers, the app features a "Specialized Help" section that connects users directly with customer support representatives from major companies like Microsoft, Google, and Procter & Gamble for accessible technical or product assistance (2).

How Can Be My Eyes Specifically Help a Person with TED?

The challenges of TED are unique. Unlike other forms of low vision, the symptoms can fluctuate dramatically throughout the day. Double vision may be worse in the morning, visual fatigue can intensify in the afternoon, and photophobia can make brightly lit environments unbearable (3). This is where the on-demand assistance of Be My Eyes becomes invaluable. 1. Overcoming Double Vision and Blurring for Precision Tasks Diplopia and blurred vision make reading small print nearly impossible. Be My Eyes offers an instant solution.

  • Reading Medication Labels: Ensuring the correct dosage of the right medication is paramount. A volunteer can clearly read the label on a prescription bottle, confirming the drug name, dosage, and expiration date.

  • Adjusting Thermostats and Appliances: When the small numbers on a thermostat, microwave, or washing machine are a blur, pointing a phone at the panel allows a volunteer to guide you in selecting the correct setting.

  • Sorting Mail and Documents: Differentiating an important bill from junk mail without straining your eyes is a significant relief. A volunteer can quickly identify the sender and purpose of a letter.

2. Compensating for Depth Perception and Color Distinction Issues When depth perception is compromised or colors are hard to distinguish, tasks requiring coordination and identification become difficult.

  • Coordinating Outfits: Is this shirt navy blue or black? Do these socks match? A volunteer can confirm colors and help you pick out a coordinated outfit, restoring confidence in your appearance.

  • Finding Dropped or Misplaced Items: If you drop a pill on the floor or can't find your keys on a cluttered table, scanning the area with your phone's camera while a volunteer directs you can solve the problem in seconds, rather than minutes of frustrating searching.

  • Identifying Products at the Grocery Store: A supermarket aisle filled with similar-looking cans or boxes can be visually overwhelming. With Be My Eyes, a volunteer can read product names and help you locate the exact brand of soup or type of yogurt you need (4).

3. Reducing Visual Fatigue and Mental Strain The constant effort to focus or decipher images causes significant visual and mental fatigue (5). Delegating these visual tasks to a volunteer conserves your energy for more important things.

  • Following Cooking Instructions: Instead of squinting to read the steps in a recipe, a volunteer can read them aloud while you focus on the physical preparation.

  • Setting Up Electronics: Connecting cables to a new TV or configuring a router can be a nightmare of tiny ports and symbols. A volunteer can provide step-by-step guidance, reducing tech-related stress.

4. Enhancing Safety and Independence Be My Eyes is not just about convenience; it is also a vital tool for safety.

  • Checking Expiration Dates: The risk of consuming spoiled food is a real concern. A volunteer can clearly read the "use by" date on a carton of milk, a package of meat, or any other perishable item.

  • Navigating Unfamiliar Environments: While it does not replace a white cane or guide dog for general mobility, it is extremely useful for specific tasks in a new setting, such as reading a hotel room number, identifying the correct button on an elevator panel, or checking a public transport schedule.

A Tool of Human Empowerment

What truly sets Be My Eyes apart is its human component. You are not being assisted by artificial intelligence, but by another person volunteering their time and sight. For someone living with TED, who may often feel isolated by their symptoms, this human connection can be as valuable as the practical help they receive. It breaks down the barrier of dependence and replaces it with a sense of collaboration and community. In conclusion, Thyroid Eye Disease presents daily obstacles that can erode one's independence. Be My Eyes offers a solution that is elegant, immediate, and profoundly human. By putting a trusted pair of eyes in every patient's pocket, this application does more than just help read labels or match colors; it restores moments of normalcy, reduces the mental burden of visual impairment, and empowers individuals to remain fully engaged in their own lives.

References

  1. Be My Eyes. (2024). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.bemyeyes.com/about

  2. Be My Eyes. (n.d.). Specialized Help. Retrieved from https://www.bemyeyes.com/specialized-help

  3. Graves' Disease and Thyroid Foundation. (n.d.). Thyroid Eye Disease. Retrieved from https://www.gdatf.org/about/about-graves-disease/thyroid-eye-disease/

  4. American Academy of Ophthalmology. (2023, August 23). What Is Thyroid Eye Disease?. Retrieved from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-thyroid-eye-disease

  5. Coulter, I., et al. (2020). The psychosocial impact of thyroid eye disease: a systematic literature review. Clinical Ophthalmology, Volume 14, 363-377.