Voice of the Customer: What do we know about the impact of sight loss on relationships?

Blind and partially sighted people encounter misconceptions about their sight loss

• A quarter of blind and partially sighted people surveyed reported that it was difficult or very difficult to speak to new people, and they attributed this difficultly directly to their sight loss.
• There are various social and practical challenges faced by blind and partially sighted people when interacting with the public and forming new relationships.
• These include intrusive questioning from strangers, feeling misunderstood or seen solely through the lens of their sight loss, and challenges navigating social interactions and environments effectively.
• Despite efforts from campaigns such as RNIB's #SeeThePerson, #BeforeYouAsk, misconceptions still occur when people with sight loss interact with the public as well as with friends and family members. This can affect relationships and how people living with sight loss interact with those around them.
• A third of our survey respondents feel that some friends, family, and the public have misconceptions about sight loss which impacts the quality of their relationships with them. However, challenging misconceptions make a positive impact on the quality of some of these relationships.

People with sight loss may experience complex dynamics within their relationships with friends and family

• Overall, two-fifths of survey participants agreed or strongly agreed that they have seen a change in the dynamics of their relationship with family and friends due to their sight loss.
• Family relationships for people with sight loss can be complex, with tensions sometimes stemming from a lack of understanding and communication about sight loss within the family unit.
• Some focus group participants expressed that family members have not been supportive when it comes to their sight loss. However, over half of survey participants agreed or strongly agreed that throughout their sight loss journey, their family had understood what they were going through.
• Sight loss can add strain to a parent-child relationship as some sighted parents struggle to accept their child's sight loss, leading to delayed access to emotional support.
• The diagnosis of a child's vision impairment may be the first exposure to sight loss the family has. This can trigger feelings of guilt, fear and confusion for the child’s future, and a strong sense of isolation as parents have no support network in place and are unsure where to seek guidance.

Sight loss impacts romantic relationships

• Sight loss can impact romantic relationships, both current and new, with partners struggling to adjust to the changes. This can cause a shift in the dynamics of the relationship. However, only a fifth (18 per cent) of survey participants said they had ever experienced challenges in finding or maintaining romantic relationships.
• Focus group participants who experienced sight loss (or deterioration in vision) after their relationship began, noted negative changes within the dynamic of their romantic relationships. This often stemmed from the loss of independence which put more domestic and caregiving responsibility onto their partner.
• Only one in six survey participants agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: 'My family has received the practical support they need to adjust to my sight impairment so we can maintain the relationships we want to.’ This is despite the additional pressure on those closest to blind and partially sighted people, who often provide practical and emotional support to their loved ones.
• Some relationships end, in part or solely, because of a partner's sight loss. As well as the breakdown of relationships, participants also reveal a loss of self-identity and confidence due to their condition. This loss can affect how blind and partially sighted people perceive their value in relationships and their ability to contribute emotionally and practically.
• Some participants discussed their experiences of finding new romantic relationships and the challenges they encountered. Challenges included misconceptions about their sight loss or discomfort from prospective partners around their differences. There are differing approaches when it comes to revealing sight loss to prospective partners.
• Online community members make greater use of fully accessible or disability apps for dating. Those who feel confident using online methods to meet new partners described the ‘sifting process’ they undertook to weed out unwanted attention.