Making the most of your vision

Try using our visual skills and strategies in the pages below. They’ll help you make the best use of your remaining vision as well as helping you to get out and about safely. 

You can use low vision aids such as a magnifier for close-up tasks and a monocular or binoculars for viewing things in the distance. Technology can be a great help with reading printed text, cooking instructions, sell-by dates, etc.

Changing the colour and contrast of items – for example putting a white plate on a dark blue mat – will help them stand out against their background.

Anti-glare glasses or coloured lenses can help with that. Read more about useful strategies and equipment to use with bright light.

Coronavirus lingers on hard surfaces, so mobility aids such as long canes and guide dog harnesses are particularly susceptible. We recommend that you clean canes and harnesses after each use using warm soapy water and a microfibre cloth.


If this is not possible, canes can be cleaned with a disinfecting wipe and the tip can be left in a solution of water and bleach if it is particularly dirty.


Avoid using disinfecting wipes on guide dog harnesses as it may damage the leather and remember to clean the harness inside and out, and the entire handle.


To clean your mobile phone, apply a 70% alcohol wipe or a Clorox disinfecting wipe, but only to non-porous surfaces such as the display and back of the phone. Do not allow moisture to enter the phone, for example through the charging port, and be aware that cleaning chemicals may damage fabric or leather surfaces such as phone cases. Don't, under any circumstances, submerge your phone directly in water or cleaning fluid.


If you are working from home, we recommend you regularly wipe down your workstation and clean equipment such as keyboards, mice and monitors.