Making a visible difference for people with sight loss

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Beacon celebrates its 150th anniversary

Beacon turns 150!

Since 1875

We’ve been here to make sure no one has to face sight loss alone. Whether you're just starting your journey or have been navigating it for a while, we can help you to live well with sight loss. We've been supporting people with conditions like Cataracts, Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Tunnel Vision, and Glaucoma for generations. Our vision? A world where everyone values and protects their sight, and where visual impairment is just a part of your story, not the whole story.

How Can We Help You?

How Can You Help Us?

About Us

News

Beacon supports everyone affected by sight loss patients, carers, and family members alike.

2015

167,000

People in the West Midlands were living with sight loss

2032

236,000

People in the West Midlands will be living with sight loss

About Sight Loss

Cataracts

Cataracts are when the lens, a small transparent disc inside your eye, develops cloudy patches. Over time these patches usually become bigger causing blurry, misty vision and eventually blindness.

Click on the eyes to view each sight loss condition.

Learn more about sight loss and its impact on daily life on the Fight for Sight website.

Cataracts: Cataracts cause your lens to become cloudy, making your vision blurred. The condition can affect one or both eyes, and usually develops when you get older, worsening over time. In the UK, age-related cataracts affect around half of people aged 65 and above. It can also affect children, although this is rare.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, which is caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (Retina). It does take a few years for the condition to reach a stage where your vision is affected.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma is part of a group of eye conditions which result in damage to the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision. It is the second most common cause of sight loss around the world, and the number of people diagnosed with the condition is set to spike due to an aging population.
Macular Degeneration: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition which is normally found in people aged over 50. This condition means you lose your central vision, though you still have your peripheral vision.
Charles Bonnet Syndrome: Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) causes people who have lost some sight to see things that aren't actually there, also known as hallucinating. It is only caused through sight loss and isn't a sign of mental health problems.
Retinitis Pigmentosa: Retinitis Pigmentosa, also known as RP, is a group of eye conditions that are genetic and affect peripheral vision and night vision. RP causes permanent vision loss, which impacts the retina. How the condition develops in each person varies.
Dry Eye: Dry Eye is a common condition which is caused by your tears which are not able to provide adequate lubrication. Tears keep your eyes healthy and help you focus. Tears are made up of three films, including the mucin layer, watery layer and lipid layer.

How Beacon makes a difference

Pin badge celebrates 150 years

We’re Celebrating 150 Years of Beacon with a Special Limited-Edition Pin Badge! To mark this incredible milestone, we recently held a competition for our amazing Beacon staff to design the […]

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MP visits charity

A Black Country sight loss charity was able to showcase its work supporting people living with a range of conditions during a visit by Dudley MP Sonia Kumar, as it […]

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Have you visited our Wednesfield shop?

Have You Discovered Wednesfield’s Best Bargain Spot Yet? Earlier this year we opened our Clearance Shop in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, and it’s already become a hotspot for savvy shoppers! With up […]

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What People Say About Beacon

I am very happy and grateful for what the Beacon Centre has done for me in my life, and I am sure there are many other people who have received tremendous help from their wonderful staff.

Engagement service user

As a recently registered severely sight impaired young adult, I felt quite hopeless and scared of starting my adult life. I didn't know how to gain more independence, find a job and where to even look for help. Thankfully I was contacted by the staff at the Beacon Centre. With the help of their amazing team I applied and got a position that truly suits my needs and interests! Additionally, I'm becoming more independent through the Braille and IT training that the Centre provides. I am incredibly thankful for all the support I've received, and I hope more people in need will come to the Beacon Centre as it is an amazing organisation that truly cares about helping visually impaired people.