Helping people with vision loss lead fuller lives

Times & Star

Last updated 19:32, Thursday, 08 January 2009

A COCKERMOUTH man is helping people who are losing their sight to lead fuller lives.
in focus: Edward Bebbington at home in Cockermouth with some of the equipment he has received from the West Cumbria Society for the Blind

Edward Bebbington, 55, of Riverside Terrace, is supporting individuals with macular degeneration. He was diagnosed with the disease five years ago.

Mr Bebbington is a volunteer trainer with the Macular Disease Society and advises fellow sufferers on how to make best use of their remaining sight. He is the only volunteer based in Cumbria.

The condition affects central vision but leaves peripheral vision intact. It can force sufferers to give up their jobs or stop driving.

Mr Bebbington said: “It’s about retraining your brain.

“You have to get away from looking directly, and look away to one side instead.”

The benefits of the training mean that many sufferers are able to remain in their jobs for longer.

Mr Bebbington added: “The first lady I helped was a receptionist in an accountants.

“She would lose the middle of a long number, but she found that the techniques helped in her job and she was able to carry on working.

“It’s nice when I can help people to carry on working for longer and it’s a great sense of achievement.”

At least 500,000 people in the UK are affected by the disease. Anyone who thinks they might have macular degeneration should contact social services to arrange an assessment.