A registered blind man is backing a campaign to challenge outdated perceptions about sight loss.

Jamie Cuthbertson, from Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, was blinded after an accident at an army training exercise.

He is supporting the Royal National Institute of Blind People's (RNIB) 'See the Person, Not the Sight Loss' campaign.

The 62-year-old said: "I do think that the public is generally more aware of the abilities of people with disabilities now.

"However, I still think there is a lack of knowledge about the best way to interact on a one-to-one level, such as offering assistance rather than imposing it on you.

"The most irritating misperception that sighted people have about sight loss is that you have also lost your intelligence, hearing and ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. 

"Assumptions that somehow you're stupid, raised voices and 'you're amazing' are commonplace.

"I also think that the majority of the general public believe that a white cane means you are totally blind - there is little understanding of the variety of ways in which different types of sight loss affect individuals."

Glasgow Times: Jamie CuthbertsonJamie Cuthbertson (Image: RNIB)

READ MORE: Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels launches 'warm hub' as people struggle to heat home

The initiative will be launched tomorrow, on World Sight Day, with an emotive short film about Ava, a fictional teenage girl who is coming to terms with losing her sight.

David Aldwinckle, director of insight that will run in cinemas, television and online customer voice at RNIB, said: “As someone who’s lived with sight loss for forty years, these findings really resonated with me emotionally.

"When people are diagnosed with sight loss, we know that they often experience a range of emotions including shock, anger and anxiety and that these can be particularly acute for a young person."

For more information, visit here.