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Blind man from Newbury Peter Middleton, 55, discusses the power of RNIB counselling




A man who has severe sight loss after experiencing a traumatic eye injury has spoken about the importance of counselling in the wake of the life-changing incident.

Peter Middleton, a 55-year-old estate manager from Newbury, suffered an injury at work a year ago when a gardening incident resulted in severe damage to the inside of his right eye.

Mr Middleton enrolled on an Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) counselling service following this and said talking about the challenges he was facing helped him to cope with feelings of identity loss.

He said: “Unbeknownst to me, my left eye already had very poor sight, at minus 13, and my right had been compensating.

Peter Middleton
Peter Middleton

“So, following the accident, I was classed as severely sight impaired, as I had no vision in my right eye and extremely limited useful vision in my left.

“I’ve always been a very active individual; playing golf, and motorbike riding.

“I can’t drive anymore, the motorbike had to go and so my partner has to do all of the driving now.

“It’s been a big change for her and a life-changing time for us both.”

The feeling of struggling to cope led Mr Middleton to apply to RNIB’s counselling service, which can provide both online and telephone support.

Less than six weeks after the accident, he started receiving counselling.

“I am so glad I did,” he said. “Without any doubt at all, Elizabeth

[his counsellor] saved my life. She was extremely understanding, empathetic and caring, and she was an inspiration to me.”

Feeling more emotionally resilient, Peter set about gaining more independence through white cane training.

This also led on to discovering new ways of doing things around the home using assistive equipment.

Mr Middleton explained: “Things like making a cup of tea using a liquid level indicator and using coloured matting for printed documents to direct your eyes to the line you want to read.

“These things almost bring some form of normality back to it all.

“Everything is still quite raw, and I get frustrated with myself when I find it difficult to move around.”

Mr Middleton is now looking to the future with more hope, and he’s just started the application process for a guide dog and is keen to do more travelling with his partner Sacha.

RNIB’s counselling services continues to be able to help people with sight loss through the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised more than £8.3m for RNIB’s work.

RNIB has urged anyone who might be or might know someone who experienced issues connected to losing their sight to call its helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk



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