[barryem]

An LCD is lit from behind the screen by a backlight shining into the reader's eyes. The light on an e-ink screen comes from the edges and is spread evenly over the surface of the screen and what the reader sees is reflected light. This is much easier on the eyes. The effect is similar to reading a paper book while sitting under a lamp.

As for size, there are some larger size ereaders available but they're off-brands and they won't give the kind of service and quality and ease of use that you'll get from a Kindle or a Kobo. The Kindles come with a 6" screen and Kobo's come in 6" and 6.8" sizes. These probably aren't ideal but if this person can use them they'll be better choices. I'd suggest getting one of these and trying it. If you get it from Amazon you have 30 days to return it. I suspect Kobo has a similar policy but I don't really know. It's worth looking into.

If that isn't large enough that's when I'd start looking at larger ones.

As for audio, that's not going to be found on a major brand e-ink raeder, however there are alternatives. If you use a Kindle and get an Amazon Echo it can read your current book to you aloud and knows where you left off on the Kindle. The Kindle will also know where the Echo left off. This requires syncing the Kindle but that's trivial.

Also a lot of kindle books come with audiobooks as low priced add-ons from Audible.com. The Amazon Echo can also play these, giving a real human voice with professional narration and can also sync with the Kindle.

It's also possible to do the audio portion with a smartphone instead of an Echo and it'll sync with the Kindle as well.

Kindles are my preferred ereader but I normally avoid trying to push them. I also have a couple of Kobos and they're excellent as well. i think, though, in this case you might want to look pretty seriously into the Kindle because of it's broader ecosystem.

Something else to consider, if the degeneration is likely to increase a lot is to just begin with audiobooks. Audible.com has a wide selection, as do other sources. They can be played nicely on a smartphone or MP3 player or computer or a tablet. I had cataracts that were inoperable for a number of years till and until it became possible to get surgery I listened exclusively. I enjoyed it.

Also if this person is legally blind there are a number of sources of free audiobooks and those sources have an even greater selection than what's commercially available.

Barry


Barry