HAVE you ever wondered what it is like to be completely blind?

Well, in aid of World Sight Day, I was sent on behalf of The Bolton News to find out for myself.

World Sight Day aims to focus attention on blindness and vision impairment, which, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People, afflicts more than two million people in the UK.

I headed down to Deansgate in the town centre, where Bolton Lions Club had set up a gazebo in order to spread awareness of the day.

As someone who does not wear glasses, and has never experienced any sight-related issues, I have never really spent much time considering what being out in public must be like for visually-impaired people

The Lions team presented me with various different glasses, all of which enabled people to experience various sight conditions.

I chose the glasses which replicated total blindness, and was provided with a walking stick and one of the Lions as an aid to assist me.

Upon trying on the glasses, I immediately felt unsettled about being unable to see anything while trying to navigate a public setting.

I found that even trying to walk a few yards while completely blind is a challenge, and without the support of an aid, it is likely I would have ended up veering off into the wall of windowpane of a nearby shop.

I was forced to rely on my other senses, and even with support, it was disconcerting not to have full control over where I was walking.

The experience taught me that it is easy to take for granted how much you rely on your vision until you are deprived of it, even if only temporarily.

Now, more than ever, I appreciate the difficulties partially sighted individuals experience on a daily basis, particularly in public places such as the town centre.