How a Living Well with Sight Loss Course Helped James Rebuild His Confidence and Future

When James first noticed his vision becoming blurry at 21, he dismissed it as something temporary. But within days, he could no longer make out faces or read number plates. Hospital visits confirmed retinal problems, yet no firm diagnosis followed. As his sight reduced to light and shadow perception, the uncertainty became overwhelming.

Losing the ability to work in the family construction business was a turning point. So much of James’s independence, identity and daily routine had been built around practical, hands-on work. Without it, life shrank very quickly. For over a year he stayed mostly in his room, withdrawing from friends and from the outside world. He felt stuck between endless medical appointments and growing anxiety about what his future now looked like.

“I was devastated: I had been working in the family business in construction, but couldn’t do this any longer.” says James.

James reached out to Sight Loss Shropshire at the moment he felt he had nowhere else to turn. He shared how isolated and dependent he felt, and how worried he was about what lay ahead. This first conversation opened the door to a different path.

Joining the Living Well with Sight Loss course marked a real shift for James. For the first time, he met other visually impaired people—people who understood the emotional, practical and social challenges he’d been trying to manage alone.

“It was on this course that I met other visually impaired people for the first time. Until then all I knew about sight loss were stereotypes. It was great having someone my age on the group as well. Joining the ‘Living Well with Sight Loss’ course made me contact my friends again; I hadn’t had any social engagement for a long time.”

Having a place where he could talk openly and build confidence again gave him the reassurance he needed to reach outward instead of inward.

With renewed confidence, James began accessing support he hadn’t felt able to seek before. He linked in with the Eye Care Liaison Officer and signed up for RNIB group counselling, where shared conversations helped him process everything he’d gone through. He’s still in touch with the group today, valuing the chance to talk, support each other and simply be understood.

Sight Loss Shropshire also referred him to the Council’s Sensory Impairment Team for cane training. Although he waited a while, he found the training transformative. Each session encouraged him to step outside again, rebuild mobility skills and re-establish a daily routine. Getting out of bed because there was somewhere he needed—and wanted—to be became an important part of his progress.

Today, James is taking a completely new direction.

“I’m now going on to study for my A levels, enrol on a psychology college course and hope to go to university. Having the sight loss experience and support that I have received made me have empathy and helped me understand people who are going through what I have.

In the future, I want to help other people with sight loss or other disabilities.”

James’s story is a powerful reminder that sight loss affects far more than vision. It touches confidence, independence, emotional wellbeing, work, relationships and the sense of who you are. With the right support at the right time, it’s possible to rebuild each of these things and find new opportunities for growth.

If you would like to find out more about our Living Well with Sight Loss courses or other support available, get in touch with our team on 07778 956096 or email admin@sightlossshropshire.org.uk.