Social-distancing with sight loss: living in the dark in a Covid-19 world

People living with sight loss navigate their lives through touch – Covid-19 realities have deprived them of that. Leaving Cert student Maeve Doyle tells Helen O’Callaghan what it’s like to have Stargardt disease, a condition affecting her central vision, in a world where social distancing is key to staying safe.

Maeve Doyle, second from left, with her dad, John, her mum, Deirdre and her younger sister, Eimear.

Social distancing is a tall order for 17-year-old Maeve Doyle. When she’s out for a walk with her dad, John, and their German shepherd, Ború, the Lucan teen can’t tell if she’s six feet away from people.