I have recently been diagnosed with maular degeneration. This is very hard for me as reading is really important to me. I am taking the vitamins and doing the shots ($2000.00 each!) but realize that within 8-12 years I will probably not be able to read at all. I have read close to 100,000 books in my life. Many of my Fantasy/SciFi books are my good friends that I reread every few years. I used to read as much as 1500 words per minute. I can no longer do that, though I still read 3-4 times faster than average. But I am very sad, because I can no longer "zone out" when reading. (My brain keeps interrupting me telling me to clean my glasses or something because I'm not seeing well.) I have about 4000 nice hardback books, about 1700 of those SciFi/Fantasy. I will some day have to  let them go because I will not be able to read them. It will do me no good to post them on PBS, because what would I do with the book credits? When that time comes, I plan to find a way to give them away to people or institutions who will appreciate them, but I will not be able to pay to ship them. Any good ideas how to set that up?

I am grateful that there is Books for the Blind and I am busily copying books off onto thumb drives, trying to replicate my library as much as possible, before it gets too hard to see. I am grateful that I still have some years to go before I lose them.  But I wonder of there might be interest in starting a thread about eye problems specifically . . .

Elizabethe

You could always trade the books here then sell off your credits over in the Bazaar.  

My son used to get audio books sent to the house for free (and the special recorder they play on loaned for free).  All sent postage free both ways.  You can borrow them as long as you want. They even have text books on audio on loan for free for the school year and we did that a few times. He is not blind, but having a learning disability that made it so he could not read at grade level also qualified him for the service.  Many of the books are read onto recordings by volunteers.  Takes an amazing amout of dedication to do that.  So many audio books available on kindle now and if you have amazon prime you can use their borrow library for titles members are willing to share. 

My mom also has macular degeneration (along with parkinsons and other things). Reading is such an enjoyment for her with her limited mobility, and why I swap here more than usual lately since she moved in with us, that I am praying she keeps her sight (she is 89). I am sorry you having this struggle!

There are devices around that will read your regular books out loud for you. You scan the bar over the page and it reads out loud. I have looked into them but not purchased.  That might be another option.