How sight loss can effect me
There are two ways in which our eyes work to help us see. One is called ‘acuity’ and this is our ability to see things clearly. In the central area of our vision, if we have good ‘visual acuity’ it means that we can see small things clearly. A loss of visual acuity reduces how well we see detail, for example, you may still be able to see a person on the other side of the road but not see the face clearly, or you might see a bus coming along but not be able to read the bus number. If you are having problems with your acuity and your optometrist is unable to provide improved spectacle correction to solve this problem, then you should seek further advice from your GP, Optometrist or Insight Team.
The second aspect to the way we see, is called, the field of view. A person with good sight can see everything in front of them that is within an arc of 180 degrees. A loss of visual field can mean that we don't see the whole picture at one time; parts of the picture appear to be missing. Depending on the cause of sight loss this could mean having a small or very narrow picture, often referred to as tunnel vision. For other people it is central or middle part of the picture that can be missing.
Serious sight loss can be about not seeing things clearly or not seeing a complete picture, it can also be a combination, for example, part of the picture missing but also what remains being unclear.
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What to do
If you find yourself in this situation do seek advice, don't wait or just put up with it. Don't assume that it is just the result of getting older and that nothing can be done about it. The chances are that there is much that can be done to help you remain independent. Follow the sources of information referred to in the section ‘Introduction.’ A lot of very useful information can also be found on the internet, but be aware, you could be unnecessarily worrying because the information you find does not apply to you - so speak with someone who can provide advice that is relevant to your circumstances. You can also refer to our useful links section.
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Hints and Tips
Whilst it is important to get the best information and advice before seeking solutions to tasks that you are finding difficult, the following may give you some ideas of things to consider.
Most people who have a serious sight loss will retain useful sight and it is important to make the best use of what remains. Controlling the following will generally help you to cope with tasks whilst still using your sight:
Big - you can't see if the object is too small or too far away, think about ways of bringing it closer, getting it bigger or using a magnifier.
Bright - we all need good light to see clearly, try to make the best use of natural daylight, reading lamps or improving the brightness of your decoration to better reflect light.
Bold - you will see things more clearly if they are viewed against a good contrasting background.