Falconry for the visually impaired

The commonest visual impairment in the UK is loss of central vision. It is, therefore, no surprise that the commonest reported disability people want help with is reading. That said, many a patient has distance demands, some of which are often ignored in the race for improved reading ability. This can be a significant oversight, when there are many studies that show how reduced distance acuity has a major impact on mental well-being and ability to adapt to a reduced vision environment.¹

Perhaps the commonest request is for help with television viewing. The usual advice is to recommend sitting closer to the screen (and perhaps some additional plus power if this is closer than a metre, and to ensure as clear and high contrast a screen as possible by adjusting the picture settings and positioning the screen away from disabling glare sources.