Eight Voices in Darkness recognised for sharing lived experiences of sight loss and mental health

Cardiff University researcher Dr Claire Nollett has received national recognition for IAA-funded work exploring sight loss, depression and mental wellbeing. She was awarded Best Talk of the Conference at the British Congress of Optometry and Vision Science for a presentation linked to this work, and the work has just one won the Public Involvement Award at the Health and Care Research Wales National Awards 2026!

Developed through Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) funding managed by Cardiff University, the work uses patient stories, sound and portrait photography to help health and social care professionals better understand the emotional impact of sight loss and improve support for people living with visual impairment.

Health and Care Research Wales Public Involvement Award video:

https://healthandcareresearchwales.org/about/news/national-awards-2026?utm_campaign=Researcher%20bulletin%202026%2010%2009&utm_medium=email&utm_source=e-shot

One of the most significant outputs from this programme of work is Eight Voices in Darkness, an audio visual installation and film sharing the experiences of eight people living with sight loss and its impact on their mental health. The installation was exhibited at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff and has since been developed into a video resource hosted by the Centre for Vision Services Research.

The work builds on an earlier AHRC IAA funded project led by Dr Nollett and Prof Kez Latham from Anglia Ruskin University, which developed educational resources for optometry students around addressing mental health in people with sight loss.

In developing Eight Voices in Darkness, Dr Nollett and Prof Kez Latham worked with Sight Life to identify people willing to share their experiences of living with sight loss. Their stories were digitally recorded and developed into an audio installation by artist Richard Bowers, with portraits taken by members of Sight Life’s photography club.

The installation was exhibited at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff over three days, attracting 186 visitors from the sight loss sector, mental health sector, people with sight loss, families and members of the public. Many visitors completed feedback forms, with responses showing that the installation helped people better understand the emotional and mental health impact of visual impairment.

One visitor reflected:

“I hadn’t quite considered the emotional and mental health impact that having a visual impairment could cause. It really opened my eyes to the often unheard struggles people face.”

The work also created space for more focused professional discussion. After visiting the installation, 20 stakeholders from ophthalmology, optometry, vision rehabilitation, eye clinic liaison, the third sector, academia and people with lived experience took part in a workshop to identify recommendations for improving practice and future research.

Feedback from visitors and stakeholders showed how lived experience can support reflection, empathy and practical learning. Some professionals described changes they would make in their own practice, including earlier signposting to sight loss support organisations, greater recognition of mental health needs, and stronger awareness of peer support.

The work has since been developed into an audio centred film and learning package for wider dissemination. A video version of Eight Voices in Darkness is now hosted by the Centre for Vision Services Research, where users can request access to view the resource.

More recently, Dr Nollett has also received Medical Research Council (MRC) IAA support for related work adapting a guided digital PTSD intervention for individuals with sight loss.

Our enormous gratitude to: Wales Council of the Blind, Ian (photographer), Sight Life, Lee, Mark, Sharon, Sian, Tracey, Nicki, Nicky and Mark (storytellers), and Rhys Denton for his support for the project.

Further information:

Watch Eight Voices in Darkness through the Centre for Vision Services Research:

https://www.cvsr.co.uk/eight-voices-in-darkness/About

Read the Penarth Times article about the exhibition:

https://www.penarthtimes.co.uk/news/25559961.cardiff-university-exhibition-sight-loss-mental-health/

Open Access paper: Eight Voices in Darkness: using art to involve the public in research dissemination | Research Involvement and Engagement | Springer Nature Link

Listen to the RNIB Connect interview about the project:

https://audioboom.com/posts/8795570-new-instillation-shares-8-voices-in-darkness

For more information about the project, contact Dr Claire Nollett: [email protected]