Vision loss can bring significant changes to a person’s life, affecting their independence and daily activities. It’s important to understand both the emotional and practical challenges your family member or loved one might face. This guide offers advice on how you can support and understand them during this time.

Key Terms:

• Visual Impairment: The term visual impairment is used to describe vision loss that cannot be corrected using glasses or contact lenses.
• Blindness: The word blindness is commonly used to describe total, or near-total vision loss.

Common Causes of Visual Impairment

• Macular Degeneration (AMD): This is the leading cause of visual impairment in adults. As you age, the macula at the centre of your retina, which contains all the cells that help us see well, wears out.
• Glaucoma: A condition where the optic nerve is damaged due to increased pressure. The nerve that connects your eye to your brain.
• Cataracts: When the lens of your eye becomes cloudy.
• Diabetic Retinopathy: A complication of diabetes that affects your vision. It damages blood vessels in your retina.
• Uncorrected Refractive Errors: A type of vision problem that makes it hard to see clearly. These happen when the shape of your eye keeps light from focusing correctly on your retina.
• Corneal Opacity: Eye problems that lead to scarring or clouding of the cornea, your eye’s clear protective outer layer.
• Trachoma: An eye disease caused by a bacterial infection.
• Hemianopia: A stroke-related eye condition that causes the loss of half your field of vision.

Making Communication & Environments Accessible

Accessible Communication

Audio Description:

Audio description is an extra commentary track for a program or movie that narrates what is happening on the screen. They’ll describe body language, expressions and movements, making the story clear through sound. This helps people with vision loss to better understand the context of what they’re watching.

Audio Formats:

Written materials can be transformed into audio formats, allowing blind and partially sighted people to listen to them at their own pace. Talking books, newspapers, and magazines are readily available, and important information, such as appointment letters, can also be produced on request.

Braille:

Braille is a language where the letters are translated into raised dots on a page that can be read by touch. Any written material can be translated into Braille.

You can learn more about Braille in our guide, Understanding Braille For The Visually Impaired, here.

Large Print:

Although many people with vision loss can still see, they may choose to use large-print formats with font sizes over 18 points. These can be tailored to the individual’s needs with the font size increased to a level they find comfortable to read.

Websites:

Many blind and partially sighted people use smartphones, tablets, and computers to access websites and can zoom in or use a screen reader to understand the content of the pages. There are also settings like dark mode, which let them change the colours and contrast on the screen to better suit their vision.

You can learn more about this in our guide, How Technology Benefits Those With Vision Problems here.

Accessible Environments

Any environment can be made more accessible for people with sight loss.

Bright lighting and large, bold signage can make it easier for those with partial sight to navigate an area, and braille can be added to signs for people who read the language. Labelling objects can also make it easier for people with sight loss to understand their surroundings, and labels can also be created in Braille.

Bright, contrasting colours can be used to draw attention to potential hazards, such as the edge of stairs, making the environment safer for people with sight loss.

Supporting a Loved One or Family Member

Be There To Listen

If your family member or loved one has recently been diagnosed, they might feel uncertain or as if things are still very new. We recommend waiting until your loved one is ready to talk but let them know that you’re there for them. You should also be an active listener, concentrating on their words and feelings. Don’t interrupt or tell them what they should do.

Learn About Their Eye Condition

If your loved one has been diagnosed with an eye condition, you may have questions or be unsure what to say. Taking the time to learn about and understand their eye condition can help you talk with them, understand, and offer your support.

Encourage Independence, Not Dependence

It’s natural to want to step in and do everything for someone you care about, but maintaining independence is crucial for confidence and wellbeing. You can support their independence by:

• Asking before helping rather than assuming assistance is needed
• Encouraging them to try tasks themselves where safe
• Supporting learning new skills rather than taking over
• Respecting their routines and personal choices

Other Ways You Can Help:

• Check in with them regularly. Making the time to call, visit, or connect with them could make a huge difference to their mental health or wellbeing. Talking can also help you understand what kind of support they’d like from you, if any.
• Ask if there are any small changes at home that could help, and offer your support to make them if they would like. For example, you could help tidy up clutter, label clothes or other household items, or set up accessible technology.
• Find out about the local support available. You can use the RNIB’s Sightline Directory to find support, charities, and communities near you. All you need to do is put in your postcode for a list of what’s available in your area.

Emotional Support for Children & Young People

The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) offers a series of guides and podcasts for parents and carers about emotional support for children and young people with vision impairment. They also provide top tips for positive mental health and sight loss counselling.

You can find the RNIB’s guides and podcasts here.

Certificates of Visual Impairment

If yours or a family member’s vision has deteriorated to a certain level, you might want to get a certificate of visual impairment. Usually, if you’re eligible for this, your optometrist will talk to you about it.

Depending on how severe your vision loss is, you’ll be registered as:

• Sight Impaired – previously “partially sighted”
• Severely Sight Impaired – previously “blind”

Getting a certificate means being on your local authority’s social service/s register of people who are either sight impaired (SI) or severely sight impaired (SSI). It’s voluntary and completely confidential; your details will not be shared.

If you have a certificate of visual impairment, it can help you get a range of benefits. These may include:

• Benefits to help with any costs relating to your disability or illness
• A reduction in the TV licence fee
• Helping NHS costs.
• Help with council tax and tax allowances
• Reduced fees on public transport
• Parking concessions

You Might Find Useful:

• Our guide on How Hormonal Changes Can Affect Your Vision
• Our guide on Why Your Eye Prescription Can Change Over Time
• Our guide on How To Manage Your Vision As You Age

The post Supporting a Family Member with Vision Loss: A Practical Guide appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

Thanks to technology developing constantly, we are seeing an increase in assistive technology, including more powerful and more accurate devices.

In this blog, we’re going to look at the different options available to those with visual impairments and how they work.

Braille Displays

Braille displays, sometimes called refreshable braille displays, are devices that allow you to read what’s on your computer screen in braille. They have flat surfaces with pins underneath that move around to form different combinations. By feeling the pins move the person can read in braille.

To use a braille display, you’ll need to have a braille translation software installed to translate the documents you’re reading into braille. The most commonly used braille translation software is Duxbury Braille Translator. It is available in the UK from the RNIB, Sight and Sound Technology, and Vision Aid. For more on braille itself and how it’s used day to day, see our guide to understanding braille.

There are a number of device options available:
• Braillant BI 40
• Orbit Reader
• Braille Me
• BrailleSensePolaris
• BrailleNote Touch
• iniseOne
• Blitlab

Screen Readers

Screen readers are a type of software that read text aloud so that people with visual impairments can hear it.

Nowadays, nearly all computers, tablets, and smartphones now have built-in screen readers. You can buy more advanced screen readers to get access to more features.

Screen readers use a synthetic voice to read aloud what’s on your screen. They require the use of keyboard shortcuts or gestures on the mouse pad to control what is being read aloud. Both the language and speed can be adjusted.

Popular screen readers include:
• JAWS (Job Access With Speech) for Windows.
• NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access) for Windows.
• Narrator for Windows, this is built into Windows PCs.
• VoiceOver, this is built into Apple’s Mac computers, iPads, and iPhones, the Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
• TalkBack for Android Devices.
• VoiceView for the Amazon Fire tablet.
• ChromeVox, this is built into Chromebooks.
• SuperNova.

Keyboards for Accessibility

If you need help distinguishing keys on a keyboard, the following options are available to you:
• Keyboards with larger keys.
• Keyboards with high-contrast colours such as black and yellow.
• Helpikeys, with five overlays and five personalised layouts you can programme.
• Maltron Expanded Keyboard, a metal keyguard helps to prevent accidental key presses.
• Onscreen keyboards/Apple’s accessibility keyboard.

Voice Recognition (Speech to Text)

Talk aloud to your device and it will covert what you say into written text. Windows includes voice recognition software and Apple has Voice Control. Additionally for Windows, there is Dragon Individual Professional voice recognition software. Android devices and Google apps also come equipped with Google Speech recognition.

Android Accessibility Features:

• VoiceView screen reader
• Changing font sizes
• Magnification
• Using contrast and colour options
• Using voice control
• Using a braille display

Apple Accessibility Features:

• VoiceOver screen reader
• Changing font sizes
• Magnification
• Adjusting touch settings
• Using voice control
• Adjusting audio and visual settings

What Other Types of Technology Are There?

• Audiobooks
• Audio description for films and TV
• Smart TVs
• Smart Glasses (Vuzix M400, NuEyes Pro glasses, OrCam MyEye, Oxsight glasses, Iris Vision Live)
• Siri/Google Assistant/Alexa

As technology continues to improve, there is hope that companies will continue to incorporate accessibility into their technology and software. This investment will allow for everyone to have equal access to information and ways of communicating.

The post How Technology Can Benefit Those With Vision Problems appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

The ability to understand braille means that people with sight loss have the same access to written word as sighted people and are able to enjoy reading for life.

Using a grid of six raised dots arranged in two columns of three dots each, with each combination of dots representing a letter, number, or punctuation mark, it’s a simple and efficient system with an array of benefits.

Invention of Braille

Braille is named after its inventor, Louis Braille, who at 15, created the first braille system in 1824. Louis Braille had an accident at aged 3 which left him blind in one eye, unfortunately an infection spread leaving him in total blindness. Having no aids available at the time, Braille created a system that would allow the blind and visually impaired to communicate and read. He would spend most of his remaining life perfecting this system.

How Braille Can Enhance Life for the Visually Impaired

• Opens Up a World of Communication: Braille helps develop the essential skills of spelling, punctuation, and grammar. While some people may prefer audio, reading braille can help with comprehending, engaging with, and retaining text information.
• Helps with Learning Math and Science: Braille can help with learning math and science because of its equivalents for symbols.
• Helps Promote Equality and Accessibility: Braille literacy provides blind and partially sighted people with access to the written word, and that fosters greater equality in society. The ability to read and write braille opens doors to independence.
• Provides Empowerment and Boosts Self-Esteems: Being literate in braille is crucial for self-confidence, it means that blind and vision impaired people can express themselves through the written word. Because they’re able to understand and engage fully with written texts, they can manage their day-to-day life independently.
• Navigate with More Independence: Public spaces that include braille signage, for example braille on lift keypads or on doors, can really help people who read braille to maintain their independence when out and about. Braille labels on everyday items can also help to quickly identify what something is.
• Use of Technology: Digital assistive technology has further enabled braille use to become an efficient part of daily life for people with braille literacy. Braille notetakers and braille displays are a fast and efficient means of writing and transcribing braille — our guide to how technology can benefit those with vision problems covers braille displays and other assistive devices in more detail.

Despite all these benefits, there is still a significant gap in its accessibility, particularly in countries like India where the braille literacy rate is shockingly low at just 1%. Braille literacy isn’t just about reading and writing, it’s allowing blind and visually impaired people to experience full, independent lives. Braille is a bridge to education, employment, and social inclusion.

FAQs

What Does a Braille Sticker Mean?

A braille sticker uses raised dots to spell out a word, letter, or short label in braille, so someone who reads braille by touch can identify an item, room, or button without needing to see it. They’re commonly found on lift buttons, doors, medication packaging, and everyday household items.

What Is Braille Communication?

Braille communication is any exchange of written information using the braille system, a tactile alphabet of raised dot patterns that blind and partially sighted people read with their fingertips, rather than relying on sight.

The post Understanding Braille: How It Enhances Life for the Visually Impaired appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.