My husband and I have been reading on kindles for years and no longer read books or newspapers in hard copies because it is so easy to adjust the view to work in the moment. I also have an iPhone and an iPad and read on those, also. I have the Kindle app in both my iphone and iPad.

There are slight differences between the Kindles and the iProducts, but I have never thought reading on one was much different from reading on the other. They all sync with each other instantly. Easy Easy.

I do not have any vision issues, my husband wears glasses, and we no longer buy books. We borrow from the libraries. We subscribe to several newsapers and magazines, all easy to read on Kindle or iProducts.

I won't read on a tablet, it doesn't feel right and it bothers my eyes. But I ADORE my Kindle and would never go back to a paper book.

Kindles are much easier to read on that tablets, because there is no glare. It's much more like reading a real book. And you can even read it in bright sun.

i have vision disabilities and i find the kindle app on the ipad works much better for me-- but I haven't tried a kindle reader in 5 or more years. I benefit from the amoled display and high contrast on the ipad. I recently upgraded my iphone and am amazed how much more clear the new iphone screens are with amoled.

What is he using to read on his Samsung? Are they just pdfs or is he using a e-format with an app.

Not all vision disabilities are the same. I don't have macular degeneration so I can't make any recommendations based on that but perhaps if we know more about what is working well for him, we can give better informed recommendations.

Are audiobooks not an option? It's the main way I've read for a long time, they've become very popular. And not just for those with vision challenges.

I tried a Kindle but it didn't work for me - gray text on gray background killed my eyes. Once they got the Paperwhite I thought that might be better - non-glare screen - but I didn't like that as well as using the kindle app on my ipad with retina display. Everyone is different though I'm sure.

Kindle app on iPad for me.

I prefer the Kindle app on an iPad. I would call an Apple store and asked them to download the app on the largest iPad so that he can try it out.

The Audible version of books might be an option, but that can get expensive. A Kindle can read to you, but the voice is mechanical like most screen readers. That doesn't bother DH, who has very little vision, but he doesn't like the lack of navigation. He prefers Bookshare.

Since macular degeneration is usually progressive, I suggest joining Bookshare. You need to have medical documentation of the eye condition. It's about $50 annually with unlimited access to whatever they have available. Their reader works on most platforms - tablet, phone, desktop, some assistive technology devices. The reader has a lot of options for fonts, audio reading speed, bookmarking and locating text, etc.

There are a number of other options you might try. I use both Overdrive and Hoopla apps on my Samsung smartphones and on my old Kindle as well. I rarely use the Kindle app.

Overdrive and Hoopla are apps I can use with my public library account. They work very well, IMPE. Overdrive also has a spinoff called Libby, I believe.

I also download books from Gutenberg.org using Overdrive.

Not a direct answer to your question, but a suggestion -- try a different font, and especially try a dyslexic-friendly font. Strange, yes, but designed to make different letters look "different" enough for your brain to quickly identify "j" from "g", "f" from "l" from "i", etc. You don't have to "be" dyslexic to benefit -- I'm not, but it's my default font on my iPad now.

Good luck!

I love my Kindle Paperwhite and never thought I'd be e-reading as I always preferred a book. On the kindle paperwhite you have a large range of text sizes to select from not just three. Does the app only have two sizes? It sounds like the Bookshare might be a really good option even going forward, but probably means the book you bought would be borrowed from there instead assuming they have it.

I learn so much here - had no idea there was a dyslexia specific font - fascinating! My son isn't dyslexic but struggled for years with reading and comprehension. He seems to have developed his own methods as an adult but I'll let him know about this.

I have a Kindle, relatively recent purchase last fall and have a luke warm relationship with it. The actual reading is easy and there are lots of adjustments that can be made for your specific needs with font and brightness. But I don't have any experience with the app to compare.

I take long walks nearly every day and listen to audio books checked out from my local library. The Libby app is linked to my library card and is easy to use and free. I can use Libby for ebooks or audiobooks. The book you mentioned, The Code Breaker, is available as an audio book from my library as well as thousands of others. If you have any difficulties a friendly librarian can assist you.

Edited to add that the Libby app used on ebooks has a sliding scale for the reader to choose the preferred font size. You also have the ability to use a custom setting where you choose font, font size and line spacing. I read ebooks on my iPad.

Thanks, all. To answer some points raised: no Apple products in this house, it's a religious issue. (That is an old programmers' joke/no joke.) And no to audiobooks. He won't wear ear buds or headphones.

He just reads in a web browser. The Kindle app has distinct font sizes, but is not a continuous size adjustment. He's not aware of a dyslexic font on the Kindle app. He uses an arial font, anything with serifs bothers him.

The Bookshare is definitely worth looking into, thanks!

I'll poll friends and see if anyone has a Kindle. And if you know anyone with MD (Jim's is advanced enough that he can't drive, gets treatments in both eyes), ask what they use.

This is all very helpful. Thanks very much.

Although I am not an avid reader, I do have a Kindle Fire. I think it would be better than an app. I'm not a fan of audio books either! I feel for your husband as my dad had MD.

Earbuds/headphones are not needed to listen to audio books. Just as someone would sit somewhere and read a book, you can sit somewhere and play an audiobook through a PC or through external Bluetooth speakers linked to a smartphone or tablet. Content from all sources can be listened to this way. If he listens to the radio or TV, listening to an audiobook would be no different.

Yeah, I do know how to take "No" for an answer.

"Overdrive also has a spinoff called Libby, I believe."

Not exactly. "Libby" is simply the name of one of two of Overdrive's apps. It's used to download and then read or listen to Overdrive content. The second app is simply called "Overdrive", and in addition to the Apple and Android device types Libby is available for, the Overdrive apps (programs) are also available for Apple and Windows PCs. In fact, there are two different versions for Windows PCs.

I personally use the Windows version of Overdrive. I download book files and then transfer them (a function provided by the Overdrive software, easily done in a few minutes) to small/inexpensive MP3 players that can clip on to my clothing. This allows me to listen while exercising, walking, or doing other things without having to juggle a larger device like a phone. They're small, the one pictured is a bit longer than 2 inches and about 1.5 inches wide.

A book, except for long ones, is usually in the 250-400 MB size, so this 8 GB player could hold 20-30 books or more. When transferred to an MP3 player, they continue to be usable after the library's expiration period. Here's one type I use and this one can also be used with a microSD card, so storage space is almost unlimited. Click to enlarge

I use the kindle app on a tablet (Android) and it's easy to adjust font size.

I've tried using my kids' kindles (they rarely use them--they have good eyes and prefer PAPER books) and find the interface better on the app.

I like the paperwhite kindle. Its waterproof too. check it out.

Elmer, no, he does not want to listen to audio books. He also listens to NPR and watches TV in the evening, and reads while other things are going on. He is rarely in a place where he would not be imposing the sound on others, mainly me. Remember, he does not drive and except for a short walk daily with the dog, has mobility issues, so he's not jogging, hiking, going to the gym, etc.

Fori, the font size on the app may be easy to change, but he is not pleased with the choices available. There is no sliding scale, just absolute font sizes, and one is too large and the other too small. I just suggested that he install the app on his laptop and see how that looks on a larger screen.

I had a Kindle Fire which was my first foray into tablet life. Then I moved on to an iPad Air 2 (mini) with the Kindle app and never looked back. As others have said, over the years I find it MUCH easier to read than paper books and although I swore it would never happen, downloaded books are my strong preference these days.

Sushi, unfortunately it sounds like standing on principle (no Apple products) is inevitably going to result in fewer effective reading options for your spouse.

I think it's why Apple is so insanely addictive: their stuff just works better. For the user that is, as the wife of a retired systems analyst I'm well aware of how a lot of IT folks feel about that company ;)

I read books on my Kindle Fire and my iPhone. Most of them are from the library through Amazon. I have poor vision and don't have any problem reading on either one. I use the Libby app on my phone to find books and it's much easier to use than Overdrive. I don't care for the audible versions of books. I don't like having someone read to me, and I don't like the voices on the few I've tried.

"I think it's why Apple is so insanely addictive: their stuff just works better."

I disagree. I have both Apple and non-Apple products in my household and in my family. Apple's stuff offers a different user experience, but functionality doesn't vary much compared to its competition. Despite what Kool-Aid drinking Apple devotees would suggest.

Here's what I think is different and why. The hardware and software that exists in the Apple world all comes from Apple. Interoperability is superb because they control all aspects of hardware and software and they make it that way. Buy a new Apple product, turn it on at home, and it joins the family. Content and settings sync almost automatically. The interfaces and interaction between devices are uniform and familiar. But all this happens at a price - flexibility and configurability are limited. This is what many technically oriented stiffs dislike about Apple. For many things, it's either their way or the highway. Other product families are more flexible and configurable.

In contrast, go to a different home with a Lenovo PC (not a Mac), a Samsung phone, watch or tablet (not iStuff), an Amazon Firestick (not Apple TV), etc. All of these have some degree of interoperability, often thanks to industry standards that manufacturers adopt. Bluetooth is Bluetooth, screen casting to a TV is screen casting, etc. But to work and to interact with other devices requires configuration. This need is an obstacle to many and is why Apple products are more comfortable and better accepted by its loyal customers. Many of these things just happen as part of how the products are designed to work together. But inflexibility is the problem for others.

I'll share my own experiences - in addition to being the family tech support department (my wife has an iPad), I have two smartphones I use regularly - a Google Pixel and an iPhone. I need two because of different uses. I much prefer the Android phone, I find it easier to use and more flexible. The iPhone does a few things I need quite well but I find it often frustrating and inflexible to use.

I have a friend who is a loyal Apple customer and uses only its products when there's a choice. I helped him set up a home network because of several particular needs he has. It's a task I've done before many times before but only with Windows products. An Apple Mini was chosen to be the server. The setup was a frustrating experience to me, much too hard and far too many of the auto configure steps were made that needed to be changed. In fairness, some of the difficulty was because it was the first time I'd done this with Apple products but I found it much harder than it needed to be.

In the end, I think the functions and capabilities of Apple products versus its competitors are identical, but the paths to get there and the user experiences are usually very different.

And yet-- for those of us with vision disabilities, the usability falls second to readability. I don't have complaints about the usability of the Kindle app on the ipad -- but i use it because it is much easier for me to see and read.

My vision issues: extreme and not fully correctable astigmatism, double vision and lack of depth perception. The high contrast and high definition screens are best for me. I was given an updated iphone with an amoled screen as a gift and i can't say what an improvement it is!

I recommend you try some of the devices and their features in store to determine what works best for your DH.

I really like my Kindle reading. It's light weight and water proof (so I can read by poolside on vacation). The paperwhite screen is far better than my regular iPad tablet. And I can adjust the font size up and down.

FWIW, I find myself using Hoopla more than Overdrive these days because it has more titles I like and ebooks are checked out for 21 days. Overdrive ebooks are checked out for 14 days here. We also have the Hoopla app on our Roku, so we can watch movies and TV shows on TV.

I really appreciate ebooks for the ability to configure fonts, sizes, and color of text. I prefer the dark mode with black page/light type. My Kindle Fire has a red light shift for night time reading, which my phone does not.

FWIW,.. when on my ipad kindle app last night, I checked out the fonts/font sizes. There were many fonts to choose from and 18 font sizes to select. Not sure why you are only seeing two font sizes. There is much less oversight for android apps -- perhaps the one you downloaded is a reader for the kindle format but not THE kindleapp?

I never said there were only two font sizes available, I said that there is one too small for him and the next one is too large. People keep getting that point wrong. With a browser, the adjustment is infinite.

My mom has advaned MD and is legally blind. She uses a Kindle Fire.

"FWIW, I find myself using Hoopla more than Overdrive these days because it has more titles I like and ebooks are checked out for 21 days. Overdrive ebooks are checked out for 14 days here."

I have two suggestions for you. For most library Overdrive accounts, the length of checkout time is changeable. Using a PC and a browser, go to your library's Overdrive home page. (You can get there with a search like "XYZ City Overdrive" or the name of the regional Overdrive cooperative membership if your library uses that, like "Southern California Digital Overdrive). Sign in, go to My Account, then Settings. If allowed by your library, you should see where the checkout time can be changed, The three choices I usually see visible are 7, 14 or 21 days.

Second, my experience is that Overdrive Kindle books get wiped from the Kindle readers at the end of a checkout period ONLY if and when the Kindle reader connects to the internet. I know this because I have a family member I help to checkout Kindle content from library Overdrive services. For this purpose, I might check out 5-10 books at one time in advance of a long trip.

Because I do Kndle checkouts from a PC, it's a two step process - checking out the book on the library's Overdrive page, and then requesting it be downloaded (it doesn't happen automatically and need not be done at the checkout time, it can be done later). When download is requested, a link is triggered to sign into the user's Amazon account. Once the Kindle device syncs and the books have downloaded, you can turn the Kindle's Wifi setting to Off. The downloaded books will remain on the Kindle device and will be usable until Wifi is turned back on again and an internet connection is made, which might be many months later. This means no new books can be downloaded until all on the Kindle device have been read. This matters for books that are popular and hard to get (with a wait list), doesn't matter for books in less demand.

My dad said that one of his issues with MD was that the letters seemed to disappear or even jump around. Does your Jim experience that?

Dad didn’t find that large-font worked for extended reading, but was sufficient for short reading like checking his accounts, email email, short articles. I wonder if a dyslexia font would have helped at all?

I just opened a book on my older model Kindle Fire. If you tap on the page, the settings bar at the top has the Aa for fonts. Tap on that, and it shows a -+ for text size. Tapping on the + amkes it bigger, basically like a zoom.

Jim checked out the neighbor's Kindle and learned a few things. The Kindle has better font size adjustment than does the app. BUT, the Kindle is much smaller, size of a large phone. The tablet is much larger. All in all, that's better for him and his vision loss than the smaller screen. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

FWIW, there are different sizes of Kindles:

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Kindle-Ereader-Family/b?ie=UTF8&node=6669702011

My older Fire tablet screen measures around 6.25" x 3.5", and the tablet itself is a bit larger than that, of course. Not trying to sell Kindles here, tho, just FYI-ing.

And not sure if this was made clear, but the other reading apps have their own settings, or you can use your device settings, if desired.

The Fire comes in a 10 inch.