"My 89-year-old mother, who has always loved to read, has found she can read better at some times during the day, than others. Allowing sunlight (coming through her window) to shine on the page, is helpful. (I've been checking into getting one of those Ott-lite lamps for her.)"
Get her a daylite lamp, and you should see a lot of improvement. Also, besure that her vitamin includes at least 250 mcg of Leutin per day.
"But, aside from lighting, she finds she can see print better at some times than others. I wonder if her medications are affecting her pupils."
I'm 66 and about 6 years ago, I went from quite near sighted to 20/10 in my left eye (my dominant eye) and 20/40 in my right eye. Also, I didn't need reading glasses any more.
A couple of years later, from November until Daylight savings came back, I needed to use my fly tying magnifiers to do the cross word puzzles and to read some books after dinner. During the daytime in our house and outside, I had no problem reading small print.
A friend who is an eye md said that it was the lack of sunlight and probably a shortage of Lutein do America's phobia not to eat eggs. He recommended a daylight bulb in my reading lamp and to go on Centrum Silver. The results were incredible in a week or so. Then, the next winter my wife bought a generic Centrum, and my inability to read in the winter after dark returned. I actually got a contact for evening wear for my right eye, and it worked. It was just a pain. Then I decided to go back to regular Centrum, and I haven't needed the contacts the last two winters.
In closing I think that many of us who are over 60 can read better in daylight with good sunlight. The use of the natural lights in the winter time can help in the evening or on cloudy days. Leutin is very important for healthy eyes and a must for most of us over 60.
Thanks very much, Grandpa Dave.