Sight Scotland

24/08/2026

If you want to follow the impact of sight loss support in Scotland, our newsletter is a good place to do it.

You will get real stories, service updates and the occasional way to get involved, straight to your inbox.

A simple way to stay close to the work.

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21/08/2026

Eye health myths, how many of these have you heard before? Swipe through five of the most common ones, and find out what's actually true.

Number four is a classic, but even that one doesn't hold up. 🥕

If you or someone you know has questions about their eyes, your optician is the best place to start.

[Image descriptions:
Image 1:
Five things. 5 eye health and sight loss myths. How many have you heard before? Sight Scotland logo.

Image 2:
Myth 1 of 5. If you have a problem with your eyes, go to your GP. Reality: go to your optician instead. Optometrists are the first point of contact for eye care in Scotland, and they can refer you on if you need further treatment.

Image 3:
Myth 2 of 5. All blind and partially sighted people read braille. Reality: only around 7% do (RNIB, 2021). Many people prefer large print, audio, or text to speech. It's always better to ask than assume.

Image 4:
Myth 3 of 5. Wearing glasses weakens your eyes. Reality: glasses correct how light focuses in the eye, they don't change the eye's strength. Prescriptions change over time simply because eyes change as we age.

Image 5:
Myth 4 of 5. Eating carrots improves your eyesight in the dark. Reality: this one dates back to World War Two. Carrots contain vitamin A, which helps keep eyes healthy, but they won't improve your eyesight.

Image 6:
Myth 5 of 5. People with colour blindness only see in black and white. Reality: true black and white vision is very rare. Most people with colour blindness struggle to tell certain colours apart, which is why colour alone shouldn't be used to highlight information.]

21/08/2026

Jemima's experience at the Royal Blind School was at the heart of our winter appeal. It's what supporters read, and it's what made them act.

That appeal has been shortlisted for Best Individual Giving Campaign at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Scotland's Scottish Fundraising Awards 2026.

It's a brilliant result for a fundraising team still building something new here at Sight Scotland. Congratulations to Catriona Boyce and everyone who worked on the campaign.

Most of all, thank you to Jemima and her family for trusting us with her story. Without it, none of this happens.

Winners are announced at the Scottish Fundraising Awards Dinner on 22 September in Glasgow. Full shortlist here: https://bit.ly/4xYeyUq

[Image description: Jemima and her mum Jayne smile closely together outdoors, Jemima wearing sunglasses and large over-ear headphones, Jayne in a patterned scarf. Bare tree branches and blue sky are behind them.]

19/08/2026

Swanston Farm & Brasserie have taken on our accessibility guide, including a Braille menu since 2022. Small changes like this make a real difference to whether someone with sight loss enjoys eating out.

If you run a restaurant or cafe, our free guide has practical tips you can put in place straight away.

Can your restaurant or cafe help make dining out an enjoyable experience for those with a visual impairment?

Start with this FREE to download Guide by Sight Scotland containing easy, top tips that you can put in place straight away: https://ow.ly/Uw3350PYw8

We had our first Braille menu printed in 2022 by the Scottish Braille Press. See here for info on how to get yours: https://sightscotland.org.uk/how-we-help/enterprise/transcription

Image shows Kevin standing next to one of the Sight Scotland branded wrapped Edinburgh taxis, with its distinctive bright turquoise green. The taxi is parked infront of Swanston Brasserie, seen in the background above Kevin. Both Kevin and the taxi driver are laughing, having just shared a joke. Kevin is wearing a black leather jacket, black jeans, brown shoes and is carrying his cane.

19/08/2026

Wet pavements and grey Scottish skies, that wasn't going to stop our supporters from lacing up for the Paisley 10k and Scottish Half Marathon over the weekend.

Across the whole of Scotland, we had runners putting in the miles for visually impaired people, with sore legs at the end, and a medal each to show for it. Some of the team ran, some came along to cheer, and a fair few of you sponsored someone taking part. All of it adds up - thank you.

Whatever part you played, thank you. It means a lot to have people behind us, rain or shine.

Did you take on the Paisley 10k or Scottish Half this year too? Tell us how you got on. 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

[Image descriptions:
Image 1. One person in a purple Sight Scotland running vest stands against a brick wall, holding up a medal. Their race bib reads 8371. They're wearing wireless earbuds and a black watch, with black shorts.

Image 2. Four people in purple Sight Scotland tops hold up medals after the Paisley 10k. Race bibs read 1440 and 1447. A stage, Scottish flags and a Paisley 10k Road Race 2026 banner are visible behind them.

Image 3. Three people in purple Sight Scotland t-shirts stand on a small stage with medals round their necks, holding a sign reading "Paisley 10k Road Race, your race, your reason." A banner behind reads "Paisley 10k Road Race 2026, with fun run."

Image 4. Three people stand together outdoors. One wears a navy jacket over a white top, holding a water bottle. One wears a purple Sight Scotland Veterans hoodie. One wears a purple Sight Scotland polo shirt with a backpack and lanyard. A Paisley 10k Road Race 2026 banner is visible behind them.

Image 5. Six people in purple Sight Scotland t-shirts stand outside a Specsavers shop, waving at the camera. Race bibs read 1554, 1447, 1446 and 1440. A Paisley 10k Road Race poster is visible in the shop window.]

15/08/2026

Information should be readable by everyone. For people with sight loss, that often means a different format. Large print. Audio. Braille.

If you are not sure what accessible formats are, or which might suit you or someone you support, we have a simple explainer.

Worth knowing, whether it is for yourself, a relative, or your workplace.

Learn more about accessible formats.

14/08/2026

Callum Lancashire has macular degeneration. For the past two years, he's helped train venues across the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on accessibility.

This summer, he went back undercover, unannounced, to see whether the training actually changes what happens when someone with sight loss turns up.

Here's what he and our secret shoppers found.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4bRaigK

[Image description: Five secret shoppers smile for a selfie on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, with colourful Fringe show posters and a Lothian bus in the background. One member of the group gives a thumbs up]

13/08/2026

Alison Thewliss MSP, Minister for Community Care, recently visited Visibility Scotland to meet people living with sight loss, and parents of children with sight loss conditions, at an event hosted by Vision Collaborative Scotland.

Members raised what still needs to improve, including vision rehabilitation and the CVI process. There was also time to talk about future priorities, with a strong focus on children and young people.

Vision Collaborative Scotland brings together organisations across Scotland working on vision impairment, including us. Find out more about the group and what we're calling for: https://sightscotland.org.uk/vision-collaborative-scotland

Sight Scotland Veterans
Visibility Scotland
Fight for Sight
Guide Dogs Scotland
Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network (RWPN)
RNIB Scotland
Scottish Sensory Hub – Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
Thomas Pocklington Trust
Visionary

13/08/2026

Free entry to Scotland's biggest walking challenge, if you fundraise for us.

The Edinburgh Kiltwalk is one month away.

Take it on as a team! Gather friends, family or colleagues for a great day out, raising money for a cause that matters.

Contact Sam at [email protected] for free team entry. 🚶‍♀️‍➡️

Image description:

Image 1: A fundraiser wearing a bright blue Sight Scotland T-shirt, glasses and a tartan kilt runs through a golden wheat field, smiling, with the Sight Scotland logo in the corner. Text reads: One month to go, Edinburgh Kiltwalk.

Image 2: A golden wheat field, with the edges of two fundraisers visible at either side of the frame. A white circle reads: fundraise for us, walk for free. Text below: why not Kiltwalk as a team, friends, family, colleagues.

Image 3: A fundraiser wearing a red tartan hairband, a bright blue Sight Scotland T-shirt and tartan kilt runs through the wheat field, laughing, hair blowing in the wind. Sight Scotland logo top right. Text reads: Kiltwalk, sign up now.

11/08/2026

It won't hurt while it's happening.

That's what makes eclipse eye damage different from most warnings we're used to. The retina has no pain receptors, so you might not notice anything's wrong until hours later, once the damage is already done.

Tomorrow, Scotland gets its best view of a solar eclipse since 1999. In Edinburgh, it runs from around 6.10pm to 8pm, with the moon covering around 90% of the sun just after 7pm.

Only certified eclipse glasses protect your eyes, look for ISO 12312-2 on the packaging. Ordinary sunglasses, however dark, do not.

Sharing this knowledge might help someone protect their eyes during the eclipse.

[Image description: A purple graphic with a solar eclipse graphic. Text reads: "Eye safety. Solar eclipse. 12 August. It won't hurt while it's happening. Only certified eclipse glasses protect your eyes." The Sight Scotland logo is at the bottom.]