TWO thousand visually impaired people from across the county felt the benefit of a sight charity’s exhibition.

Open Sight organised the specialist event at the Ageas Bowl in West End as a chance to get advice, information and support and find out about services available.

But it was also an opportunity to find out about the gadgets available that could help residents with sight loss become more independent.

This could be everything from a magnifier to audio adapted mobile phones and tablets.

Open Sight said the event was also a chance for it to market how much it can offer, having extended its equipment area offering people the chance to try out the latest technology at its Eastleigh base.

Forty exhibitors took part in the event, which only happens once every two years, and those who attended were mainly people Open Sight are helping or have helped in the past.

Debbie Ross, director of services at Open Sight, based in Eastleigh, said it had been a success and the charity had already had someone come in who had been inspired by the exhibition to get a magnifier to help them read.

“It’s not always easy to access things, it’s not like going to the high street, it’s a case of specialists have to come to you, but you need to know where to find them,” she added.

“There’s always new technology coming out so it was an opportunity for everyone to see what’s around the corner.”