Font type in a book

I have eyesight problems. I have had them since birth and in 1989 a AWFUL-mologist made my vision worse. When I write something for myself, both for my benefit, I use Arial or maybe even Verdana. For accessibility, I also use Arial or Verdana.. The extra ornamentation of the letters in TImes New Roman can make it hard for me to read, especially with small font sizes. (I talked to a person at a publisher’s book table in an exhibit hall, and he said that they use whatever font size it takes to get the page count that they want. Thanks a lot.) I know that publishers expect MSS to be in Times New Roman 12 pt. However, if I self-publish a book, I don’t have to follow that, do I? I’m working on the final draft of my book prior to sending it to an editor, and I am making sure that everything, text and endnotes, is in Arial. Is this a problem? I know it will make the book somewhat longer. Is that a problem? What do you think? Were it up to me, every ebook I read would be turned into Verdana. Thanks.