Visibility Scotland Patient Support Service, Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion

Phone: 0131 378 1874

• We provide practical and emotional support to patients of the Eye Pavilion who are 16 or over and going through diagnosis or experiencing changes to their vision. We also support their family and carers.
• The service provides information, hands-on demonstration of a huge range of assistive aids and technology, person-centred advice and a friendly listening ear for any worries or concerns related to living with sight loss.

Read more about our Patient Support Service at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.

Sight Scotland

Phone: 0131 385 7488

The Sight Scotland Rehabilitation & Mobility service supports adults living with visual impairments across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian to learn new skills through training, guidance and advice on safe and effective ways to continue with everyday tasks.

Independent living skills:

• home assessments and training on managing daily living tasks
• advice on reading & accessing print
• demonstrating equipment.

Orientation and mobility:

• indoor and outdoor mobility and orientation training
• pre-cane skills
• identifying safe routes
• long cane training
• sighted guiding.

Information and advice

• lighting  and contrast
• types of magnifiers
• reading
• apps and accessibility features on mobile devices
• talking books and newspapers
• groups and clubs
• benefits and support
• signposting to external support services.

Read more about Sight Scotland.

Sight Scotland Veterans

Phone: 0131 229 1456

Sight Scotland Veterans provide assistance to veterans of the armed forces who have a significant visual impairment.

Their award-winning Linburn Centre is based at Wilkieston in the west of Edinburgh. It is a centre of activity for members and residents within travelling distance, and a resource for occasional or short course use for members from further afield. The Linburn Centre can accommodate 35 members daily and offers a wide range of leisure and social activities including arts, crafts, daily living skills, IT, gym and relaxation in addition to training opportunities for members. For those within travelling distance, transport can be provided to and from the Centre free of charge, in addition to a hot meal.

Scottish War Blinded also offers an Outreach Service. Outreach workers provide support to members and are a one-stop contact point for dealing with statutory and voluntary agencies, offering assistance with benefits and daily living skills.

Read more about Sight Scotland Veterans.

RNIB

• Support at both a local and a national level for people of all ages with sight loss.

Local support – contact RNIB Scotland on 0131 652 3140

National Support – contact RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999

Read more about the RNIB. 

Guide Dogs Scotland

Phone: 0800 781 1444 

Helping people with sight loss live the life they choose. Children and adults. Friends and family. Whoever you are, expert staff, volunteers and life-changing dogs are here to help you live actively, live independently, and live well.

Guide dogs and buddy dogs support adults and children with sight loss.

Additionally, for adults with sight loss: sighted guide volunteers, sighted guiding training for friends and family.

For children with sight loss: custom made books, play sessions for 0-4 years, family events, technology and sensory equipment grants.

For all, information and advice available on the website or phone line.

Contact Guide Line on 0800 781 1444 or email information@guidedogs.org.uk

Read more about Guide Dogs Scotland.

Macular Society

• General enquiries and referrals: Macular Society Advice and Information service. Phone: 0300 30 30 111, Email: help@macularsociety.org

• Edinburgh has a number of volunteer run peer support groups, including one for working age people with macular disease. E-mail iona.mclean@macularsociety.org or call Iona on 07517 543998 for further details.

Read more about the Macular Society. 

Find more information and contacts for services across Edinburgh by selecting from the options below.