A REGISTERED blind woman has revealed the criticism she has faced for having a guide dog.
Sara Irvine, was registered blind after operations to repair a brain tumour made her already diminished eyesight worse and she now cannot see out of one eye.
Ms Irvine, of Pershore was given two-year-old guide dog Rosie last year, but admits she receives comments almost daily from people who can't understand why she has been given one.
She said: "A lot of people ask me if I am training a guide dog and when I say it is mine they say I do not look blind and it does not look like I need one. I get this almost every day.
"Other people say that if I pick up dog mess than I can't be blind.
"I have had problems with my sight since I was young, and a number of operations to repair a brain tumour has made it worse.
"I have never had peripheral vision in my right eye or forward vision in my left eye, but I have now lost peripheral vision in my left eye which means I cannot see out of it at all. I now have just vertical 'letterbox' vision in my right eye.
"People need to open their eyes to sight loss and I really want to raise awareness of it.
"I do try and laugh when I hear it, but it is frustrating and I do get upset sometimes when I get home."
Talking about how Rosie helps her, she added: "Rosie is my best friend, she is not just my eyes but she gives me independence and security.
"She stops me falling over and passing out, I was told that if I do that again I could lose my sight permanently.
"She gives me confidence to leave the house and to do my shopping without causing problems for anybody else."
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