What is a Visual Impairment?
Depending on the severity of their vision loss, people will be either registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired (which is also known as blind). The terms "blind" and "partially sighted" are more generally used in everyday conversations.
However, how someone chooses to describe themselves in relation to their eye condition is very individual and the term they use will depend on their personal preference.
Everyone is different and manages their sight loss condition in a unique way. Sight loss can vary significantly. This includes total blindness, better vision in light or dark areas, long distance and short distance, and that's just highlighting a few!
Never make assumptions of what people can and cannot see, as each blind and partially sighted person's background to sight loss is different.
Ask!
Asking questions such as "Can you describe what you can see to help me understand how I can best guide you?" or "What can I do to support you?" are a great way to start the conversation.
Common Sight Conditions
The following videos simulate what someone with the four most common sight conditions may see and how to best support and guide them around your leisure facility.
Diabetic Retinopathy
This is a complication between diabetes which damages the tiny blood vessels that deliver blood to the retinas. This condition can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy include blurring of the vision and ‘blind spots’ or ‘floaters’, appearing on certain parts of the retina.
Play the video to see how Simon is guided around the facility by Kelly who is a member of staff at the leisure centre.
In this video from the Thomas Pocklington Trust, we see a simulation of a person with Diabetic Retinopathy being guided around a leisure centre, to highlight best practice on how to provide a guide to someone with this visual impairment, and to help explain the specific visual challenge that Diabetic Retinopathy provides. Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that damages the tiny blood vessels that deliver blood to the retinas. The guide is Kelly and the person with the visual impairment is Simon.
Narrator: This video simulates a person with diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that damages the tiny blood vessels that deliver blood to the retinas. The condition can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include the blurring of vision, blind spots or floaters appearing on certain parts of the retina.
Kelly: Good morning, Simon. It's Kelly. How are you?
Simon: I'm very well. How are you?
Kelly: I'm good, thank you. How would you like to be guided?
Simon: Right elbow, please.
Kelly: We're just going to go through some double doors, Simon. I'm just going to put my hand behind you. Simon, I'll open the right-hand side for us. And I'm just going to go down the corridor towards the changing rooms. The accessible ones are on the right, so we're just going to come to the right. The door's already open. So we're just going to go in. Toilet to your right with the wash basin and the lockers are in the far right-hand corner. You need a pound for those. Have you got a pound today? Lovely.
I'll just leave you to get changed. I'll wait outside and I'll shut the door.
Simon: Okay, thanks.
Kelly: You all changed, Simon. Do you still want my arm? Is that all right?
Simon: Yes, please.
Kelly: So we'll just make our way down to the gym for you. Just go back the way that we came down. So just coming through a door, Simon. I'm going to open the left-hand side. Lovely. Down to the right. Corridor's fairly open. There is a set of double doors shortly, but they're already open.
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
Retinal Dystrophies is the name given to a group of inherited eye conditions, of which RP is one. These conditions cause a slow loss of vision, beginning with night vision and peripheral (side) vision and eventually affecting central, colour and reading vision.
Play the video to simulate this eye condition, as Scott navigates a weights section of the gym.
In this video from the Thomas Pocklington Trust, we see a simulation of a person with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) being guided around a leisure centre, to highlight best practice on how to provide a guide to someone with this visual impairment, and to help explain the specific visual challenge that Retinitis Pigmentosa provides. Retinitis Pigmentosa is the name given to a group of inherited eye conditions called retinal dystrophies. The guide is Kelly and the person with the visual impairment is Scott.
Narrator: This video simulates a person with retinitis pigmentosa. Retinitis pigmentosa, RP, is the name given to a group of inherited eye conditions called retinal dystrophies. These conditions cause a slow loss of vision, beginning with night vision and peripheral side vision, and eventually affecting central, colour and reading vision.
Kelly: Okay Scott, so we're just going to go down this corridor, it's quite open and empty. Coming up to a set of double doors, so I'm just going to open those for us.
Scott: Thank you.
Kelly: And then if we just step into the gym and turn around to our right.
Scott: Thank you very much.
Kelly: Okay Scott, we'll make our way down to the free weights area. There is machines to the left and to the right of you, so just be careful. The flooring is just about to change, so just bear that in mind. To your left is the bicep curl machine.
Scott: Thank you.
Kelly: Moving forward, you've got your leg pressed to the left and benched to the right. And we're just coming onto the chest press now. So if you just feel that in front of you, you'll feel the arm of the chest press. To the left of that, that's where the plates go. When you're going to sit into the seat, you will just need to turn round and gently lower yourself down. The seat is a little bit on the lower side. There is also two handles, left and right.
Scott: Lovely.
Kelly: And again, it might be worth just feeling for those, so you don't catch yourself when you're going in. If you want to get on and do a few reps and just see how that feels for you.
Scott: Nice.
Kelly: How does that feel?
Scott: Excellent
Kelly: So do you just want to try and do a few reps just to see how it feels for you? Make sure we've got the seat at the right height. How does that feel?
Scott: That's perfect mate, thank you.
Kelly: Yeah, does that feel alright?
Scott: Yep.
Kelly: You're getting in the groove there mate.
Scott: Thank you so much.
Kelly: Seat height, feel okay?
Scott: Lovely, thank you, thank you.
Kelly: Excellent job, well done.
Scott: Thank you.
Cataracts
This is a common eye condition in which the lens inside the eye gradually become less transparent with age. Over time, a cataract can worsen, making vision become cloudier, but it is usually treatable with a fairly simple operation. Cataracts cause an overall blurring and haziness to vision. It often appears as though everything is out of focus.
Play the video to see how Rich navigates a swimming pool with cataracts.
This video from the Thomas Pocklington Trust simulates a person with Cataracts. The simulation follows leisure centre employee Lucy, who is guiding Rick.
Narrator: This video simulates a person with cataracts. Cataracts are a common eye condition in which the lens inside the eye gradually becomes less transparent with age. Over time, a cataract can become worse, making vision cloudier, but it's usually treatable with a straightforward operation. Cataracts cause an overall blurring and haziness of vision. It often appears as if everything is out of focus.
Lucy: Okay, Rick, so you've never been to Energize before?
Rick: No, first time here, Lucy.
Lucy: Okay, so what we've done is we've put a lane in for you with visual aids at each end of the lane.
Rick: That's great. The lane's brilliant because if people are swimming at me from different directions, it all ends up bumping out.
Lucy: Yeah. Okay, so we're coming on to Poolside. We've got the shallow end to our right and the deep end at the left. So, you're wanting to get into the deep end, so just step straight into the lane for you.
Rick: Okay.
Lucy: What I'll do is I'll put my hand on the steps and then you can get yourself in from there.
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD does not cause complete loss of sight. It affects central vision, which can become distorted and blurry. Eventually a black patch may appear. This lack of central vision makes reading, recognising faces or watching television more difficult.
Play the video to see how Sidney is able to access the gym with the assistance of his guide dog Jay, along with Lucy, a member of facility staff.
This video from the Thomas Pocklington Trust simulates a person with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The simulation follows leisure centre guide Lucy, who is guiding Sydney. Sydney has a guide dog, Jay.
Narrator: This video simulates a person with age-related macular degeneration, AMD. The macula, which is part of the retina at the back of the eye, contains millions of cone cells. These cone cells allow you to see fine detail for things like reading, writing and recognising colours. When someone develops AMD, the cone cells become damaged and stop working as they should. It affects the central vision, which can become distorted or blurry. Eventually, a blank patch may appear.
Sydney: Find the door. Where's the door? Find the door. Oh, there it is. Good boy. Find the door. Good lad, find the way. Find the way. Good boy, find the way. Good boy, find the door.
Lucy: Hi, Sydney. It's Lucy. You all right?
Sydney: I'm good, thank you.
Lucy: Are you here to use the gym?
Sydney: Yes, please.
Lucy: So, shall we put Jay behind reception?
Sydney: Yeah, that would be great.
Lucy: How would you like to be guided?
Sydney: I'll follow you, please. Follow. Good boy, follow. Good lad, follow. Good boy. Come on, Jay. There we go.
Lucy: Okay, Jay's behind reception. How would you like to be guided down to the gym?
Sydney: Can I grab your right elbow, please?
Lucy: Okay, that's fine. Okay, so it's just a straight corridor down to the gym. There are two double doors, but they're open, okay?
Sydney: Brilliant, thank you.
Sight Conditions Resource
Download
Remember that everybody experiences sight loss in different ways. It is always better to ask!
Click here to download and check out our key messages resource for some helpful tips.
Registering Sight Loss
Did you know that not everybody who is visually impaired registers their sight impairment, mainly due to the associated stigma?
Why should we encourage people to register their sight loss?
Being registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired requires a person to receive the Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI). The CVI has three main functions:
- It qualifies a person to be registered with their local council as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind).
- It lets the person's local council know about their sight loss. They have a duty to contact people to offer registration and to see if they need help with day-to-day tasks.
- The CVI records important information about the cause of sight loss. It helps the NHS to identify any trends in certain eye conditions, as well as helping with planning services.
Related Learning
Coaching Blind and Partially Sighted People (eLearning)
Gain the confidence to include blind and partially sighted people in your sessions and develop your understanding of the challenges and barriers they face when trying to take part in sport and physical activity.
LEARN MOREBack to the Toolkit
Navigate back to the main toolkit page for Inclusive Facilities: Supporting People With a Visual Impairment