Guide for Newly Diagnosed

Getting a clear and accurate diagnosis is an important first step.

• Ask for a diagnosis from an ophthalmologist with a special interest in retinal conditions.
• Always ask your ophthalmologist to explain the diagnosis in detail, including whether the condition is progressive or stable, and whether it could affect other family members.
• Ask for the exact medical term for your condition rather than a general description.

A clear diagnosis helps you access the right care, support, and information. Without it, it can be harder to plan next steps with confidence.

If you need a referral or support in understanding your diagnosis, please contact us.

You may also wish to explore genetic testing to better understand your condition, identify family risks, and make informed reproductive choices.

For trusted updates on research and clinical trials, visit our Research Hub.

A low vision assessment is carried out by a specialist low vision optometrist. It helps you understand what you can still see and how to make the most of your remaining vision in everyday life.

A low vision assessment may include:

• Visual acuity testing (how many lines you can read on an eye chart)
• Field of vision testing
• Contrast sensitivity testing
• Assessment of night vision and colour perception

Understanding these aspects of your vision can help guide appropriate interventions and support.

Please see our list of trusted service providers on our Find Help & Services page.

Mobility training helps you move safely and confidently through your environment.

Visual strategies may include training in the use of specialised optometric devices such as prisms, bifocal lenses, or trifocal multi-lenses.

There are different mobility options, and the right choice depends on your level of vision, environment, and personal preference. Navigation options include:

Symbol cane

A short white cane that signals vision impairment to others and helps locate steps and obstacles in unfamiliar environments. Specialist training is not required.

Long cane (mobility cane)

A longer cane designed for people with very limited vision. It allows detection of obstacles more than a metre ahead. Training from an Orientation and Mobility instructor is required to learn skills such as road crossing, navigating crowds, and managing steps.

Guide dog

A guide dog is specially trained and matched to you based on temperament, strength, and size. Through intensive training, you and your guide dog can achieve safe, independent mobility.

Expert advice on lighting and contrast can improve visibility at your place of work and home. A Skills for Daily Living instructor (often an occupational therapist) or an Orientation and Mobility instructor can assist you in adapting your home and workplace to optimise visibility.

While traditional talking devices, such as talking microwaves, watches and clocks, continue to provide dependable tactile and speech-based functionality, the landscape of assistive technology has advanced significantly. These specialised products remain available from reputable South African suppliers, including the South African National Council for the Blind Assistive Technology Centre, Edit Microsystems, Sensory Solutions, as well as through online stores.

However, the most transformative development in recent years has been the rise of mainstream smart technology. Everyday appliances, such as smart microwaves and washing machines, can now be controlled through accessible mobile applications. Even where devices do not include built-in speech, they can be seamlessly paired with screen reader software such as VoiceOver or TalkBack, enabling full voice interaction.

This approach extends across a wide range of household technologies. Smart televisions, home security systems and even bathroom scales can be used accessibly by simply installing the corresponding application, allowing readings and notifications to be spoken aloud or displayed in an enlarged format. Similarly, many modern watches now integrate with smartphones to provide voice-enabled alerts and updates.

For magnification, standalone devices are no longer the only option. A high-quality mobile application can transform a standard smartphone into a powerful electronic magnifier, offering flexible, portable and cost-effective visual assistance.

Assistive devices and technology can greatly improve independence and quality of life.

Tablets, smartphones, and computers often include built-in accessibility features such as magnification, screen reading, and voice control. These can be accessed through your device’s Settings under Accessibility.

Smartphones are one of the most powerful and cost-effective assistive tools available. Customising your device for magnification, voice-over, reading, communication, and navigation can significantly support daily independence.

Specialist trainers can assist with setting up and personalising your smartphone to suit your needs.

A wide range of free and paid apps are available via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to support everyday tasks, including:

• Magnification
• Voice assistance
• AI-powered image description
• Colour recognition
• GPS navigation

Recommended apps

Be My Eyes

A free app that connects you to sighted volunteers or AI for real-time visual assistance, helping with tasks like reading text, identifying objects, and navigating your surroundings.

Download Be My Eyes App [External Link]

Seeing AI

An AI-powered app that reads text, scans barcodes, and describes objects using your phone’s camera and audio feedback.

For example, it can read letters or signs, identify food items from barcodes (like tins or boxes), and recognise everyday objects around you.

Download Seeing AI App [External Link] 

For guidance and training, you can contact the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB). They provide support, training, and access to a wide range of assistive technologies to help people with visual impairments live more independently.

Contact details:

Location: 514 White Street, Bailey’s Muckleneuk, Pretoria, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0)12 452 3811

Email: helpdesk@sancb.org.za  / admin@sancb.org.za

Visit South African National Council for the Blind for More Details  ​​

Wearable technologies, such as smartwatches and adaptive spectacles, are increasingly incorporating features like audio feedback, navigation support, and magnification, offering additional tools for independence and accessibility.

You’ll Never Have to Stop Reading – You Simply Learn to Read Differently

When vision begins to change, reading does not come to an end – it evolves. Many people start with a simple handheld magnifier. Affordable and easy to use, it allows you to move line by line across a page. As needs change, more advanced solutions, such as CCTV (closed-circuit television) readers, offer significant benefits. These devices display printed material on a screen, allowing for substantial magnification, contrast adjustments, and colour inversion (for example, white text on a black background), which many users find more comfortable.

Digital reading opens up even greater possibilities. Devices such as the Amazon Kindle enable users to increase font sizes dramatically, making text far more accessible. Library applications like Libby provide similar functionality, alongside free access to audiobooks through local library services.

Your Reading Options at a Glance:

• Handheld magnifiers for simple, everyday reading
• CCTV/video magnifiers for larger text and contrast control
• E-readers (e.g. Kindle) with adjustable font sizes
• Audiobooks via libraries and specialist services
• Built-in accessibility tools on computers and smartphones
• Screen readers for full audio access to digital content

In South Africa, additional support is readily available. The South African Library for the Blind and Tape Aids for the Blind offer access to audiobooks, which can be streamed directly to your phone or computer at no cost.

Visit The South African Library for the Blind Website for More Details [External Link]

Visit Tape Aids for the Blind for More Details [External Link]

For reading emails and work documents, small adjustments can make a meaningful difference. Built-in magnification tools in Microsoft Windows can enlarge text, while clear fonts such as Calibri can improve readability. Increasing cursor size and contrast can also help maintain visibility. As needs progress, specialist software such as ZoomText offers advanced magnification and optional speech output.

When vision becomes more limited, screen readers provide full access to digital content through audio. Options include Narrator (included with Windows), NVDA (a highly regarded free solution), and JAWS (a premium, feature-rich option). Apple users benefit from VoiceOver, built into macOS and iOS, while Android devices include TalkBack.

It is important to note that screen readers take time and practice to learn. Structured training can make a significant difference, particularly for more advanced tools such as NVDA and JAWS. Support is widely available. Organisations such as Retina South Africa, the Cape Town Society for the Blind, and the South African National Council for the Blind offer guidance, training, and peer support. Many individuals who have navigated this journey are also willing to share their experience.

You are not alone. Reading may change, but it never has to stop.

Adjusting to a diagnosis can be challenging, both practically and emotionally. Access to the right support can help you navigate changes, build confidence, and feel less alone.

An important part of living with vision loss is connecting with others who understand your experience.

Retina South Africa offers:

• One-to-one support for individuals and families
• Facilitated group support sessions
• Member WhatsApp support groups

Parents and teachers are often the first to notice changes in a child’s vision. Any concerns should be investigated by an optometrist and ophthalmologist to obtain a diagnosis and, where possible, prescribe spectacles or assistive devices.

Children in public schools are legally entitled to reasonable accommodation, which may include:

• Additional lighting
• Large-print materials
• Assistive technology
• Extra time for tests and examinations

View Our Guide for Educators page.

Parents may need to advocate strongly to ensure appropriate accommodations are provided. There are also tax-deductible options for certain assistive technologies. Consultation with a specialist tax practitioner is recommended.

Retina South Africa can assist families in navigating school systems and accessing appropriate support.

You have rights under South African labour law and the Constitution regarding reasonable accommodation in the workplace.

If vision loss affects your ability to perform your role:

• Employers are required to consider assistive technology, retraining, or reassignment to a less vision-dependent role.
• Employees may not be dismissed solely due to vision loss.
• If difficulties arise, you may wish to seek legal advice or additional support. You might also consider joining a trade union for extra support.

Assistive technologies can help maintain productivity at work, and many employers fund such devices. Tax-deductible allowances may also apply.

Retina South Africa keeps members informed of employment opportunities and can provide letters of support for workplace accommodation.

If vision loss prevents you from working, you may qualify for a Disability Grant through the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Find out more about how to apply for the Disability Grant here [External Link]

Retina South Africa can assist you with guidance throughout the application process.

View Our Qualifying for Disability Benefits page.

Lifestyle choices can support both your overall health and your eye health. View the full lifestyle guide here.

• Eat a colourful, largely plant-based balanced diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and fibre.
• Leafy green vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important for supporting cone photoreceptor health.
• Avoid smoking.
• Limit highly processed foods and excessive sugar intake.
• Protect your eyes from UVA and UVB light using appropriate lens coatings or quality sunglasses.
• Manage blue light exposure from electrical devices using the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at least 20 metres away for 20 seconds and blink 20 times.
• Use supplements appropriate to your condition only after consulting your doctor or Retina South Africa.
• Stay physically active through suitable activities such as walking, swimming, yoga, chair exercises, or parasport.

View Our Para Sport Development Page.

You are not alone. By joining Retina South Africa, you become part of a supportive community committed to improving the lives of people affected by genetic vision loss, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic vision loss.

We offer:

• Membership and ongoing support
• Reliable advice and referrals
• Access to genetic testing and clinical trial information
• Regular newsletters with updates on research, technology, and community events
• Advocacy for improved services and awareness
• Guidance for parents, teachers, and employers
• Peer support and WhatsApp groups
• Assistance with SASSA grant applications