Last week, CNIB sent out a survey asking clients to tell what words they used to describe their vision loss to others. How did we describe our vision to other people? I was glad that the survey enabled us to choose multiple responses. I know that I have several ways to describe my vision loss.
At times I use the phrase, limited vision. At other times, I might say blind, or partial sight, or poor or low vision. Sometimes I use the term legal blindness and at other times I simply say that I don’t see very well. I think that I might be trying to phrase my response to align with the question I am being asked at the time.
For instance, on a recent flight with the passenger information form, the only box to indicate my vision was “blind”. So, I checked it. Yet, when we boarded the plane the flight attendant asked if I could see anything. Yes, I responded that I had partial sight. I suppose there was a difference between a legal form and the flight attendant needing to know how she could assist me during the flight.
My friends will sometimes ask me to be more specific about what I can or can’t see. Am I able to see their faces? NO! Am I able to see the tiny shiny object I might have dropped on the floor? Usually, yes. Am I able to see the six meter high stack of boxes in front of me? Often the answer to that is “No”. Am I able to see print? The answer to that one is a definite no. However, I have noticed that as I watch the weather on Global News, there has been a change in reporting some of the temperatures for the day. They are using very large print and occasionally I am able to catch the numbers on the screen.
So, what words do I use to describe my vision loss? I know that with CNIB’s survey, the agency is attempting to find the most accurate, inclusive and sensitive way to describe the vision of its clients, but personally I think that vision loss is maybe too varied to describe accurately with just one term. My hope is that this blog will shine some light on the variations of sight and vision loss.
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