Data from SeeWay has highlihted the critical importance of early, lifestyle-focussed support for patients adjusting to vision loss. In its first year of operation, more than 14,000 Australians with some level of vision loss connected with SeeWay to seek practical guidance, digital skills support, and emotional reassurance. Across more than 250 engagements with eye care professionals and community events nationwide, the organisation said one message emerged consistently: patients want earlier support that addresses their whole-person needs.

“For people adjusting to low vision, the most disorienting challenges often emerge in daily life – feeling unsafe navigating unfamiliar spaces, withdrawing from social situations, or losing confidence with technology,” the organisation reported. “This is where holistic care becomes essential.” Patient feedback revealed that although clinicians often express concern about over-referring or referring too early, for patients, early lifestyle-focussed support helps them stabilise sooner, adapt more confidently, and remain engaged with their care.

“Modest interventions like lighting advice, magnification strategies, emotional adjustment support, and digital literacy coaching can shift a person’s sense of control,” the organisation said. Support doesn’t need to wait until vision meets a particular threshold. If daily life is being affected, even subtly, it is both appropriate and deserved.

By embedding holistic pathways alongside clinical management, eye care professionals strengthen therapeutic alliance, reduce downstream psychosocial burden, and support better long-term outcomes for patients navigating vision loss.

Visit: seeway.com.au for free resources. Patients do not need a referral.