Meta smart glasses and sight loss: Lee’s experience
Meta smart glasses and sight loss: Lee’s experience
Meta smart glasses and sight loss have become part of a growing conversation as AI-powered wearable technology continues to develop.
For blind and partially sighted people, smart glasses could offer new ways to access information and complete everyday tasks more independently. However, there are also wider conversations around privacy, reliability and how this technology should be used.
But what are Meta smart glasses actually like for someone living with sight loss?
For Lee Morris, they could offer another way to approach everyday tasks with greater independence.
Discovering Meta smart glasses at Galloways
Lee first heard about Meta smart glasses when he came along to a coffee morning at Galloways. During his visit, someone spoke to him about the technology and he was given a demonstration.
After seeing what the glasses could do, Lee began thinking about how they could support him in his everyday life.
“I think it’s going to be a bit of a game changer with certain things and aspects of your life.”
In particular, Lee hopes the glasses will help him find and identify things without always needing to ask someone else for support.
For him, that could provide an extra level of independence.
“It’s going to give me that extra independence so that I don’t have to worry anybody about it. I can sort of do it myself.”
Making everyday tasks more accessible
AI smart glasses can provide hands-free access to information about what is around the person wearing them.
RNIB says this technology has the potential to help blind and partially sighted people access text, recognise objects, navigate and receive descriptions of their surroundings. Meta glasses can also connect users to remote sighted assistance through services such as Be My Eyes.
For Lee, the potential benefits are very practical.
He spoke about using the glasses to help read medication and letters. He could also use them to identify items in his food cupboard and check that he has picked up the right product.
Lee explained that he has previously picked something up believing it was one item, only to discover after opening it that it was something different.
These may seem like simple everyday tasks. However, being able to complete more of them independently could make a meaningful difference.
Building independence and confidence
Lee is also realistic about learning to use new technology.
As with any new device, he knows it will take time to understand the different features and become confident using them.
“Obviously it’s like anything else with new technology, trying to get yourself around it and getting used to it all, it kind of takes its time.”
Despite this, Lee believes the glasses could have a positive impact.
“I do think it will help me with independence and confidence in general really.”
Getting started with support from Galloways
During his demonstration at Galloways, Lee was shown how to use the glasses and supported with the initial setup.
He was talked through the process of installing the software and connecting the glasses to different applications on his phone.
“The demonstration went really well. Nadia was very clear on what I needed to do to use them.”
For Lee, having the opportunity to try the technology and learn how to use it was an important first step.
He is now looking forward to becoming more familiar with the glasses and finding out how they can fit into his daily life.
The growing conversation around AI smart glasses
Lee’s experience comes at a particularly relevant time.
On 11 September 2026, RNIB launched a survey asking blind and partially sighted people to share their views on AI smart glasses. The charity says there is significant discussion among people with sight loss, as well as the wider public and media, about the rise of technology such as Meta smart glasses.
Alongside their accessibility potential, smart glasses have also prompted conversations about privacy.
Meta’s AI glasses contain a camera which can be used to capture photographs and videos. According to Meta, a white capture LED on the front of the glasses flashes while content is being captured. On its second-generation glasses, Meta says blocking or tampering with the LED disables the camera.
As AI smart glasses become more widely used, conversations about accessibility, privacy and responsible use are likely to remain important.
For blind and partially sighted people in particular, it is also important that their experiences help shape how this technology develops.
“It opens up doors that you didn’t know existed”
For Lee, the potential impact goes beyond making individual tasks easier.
He has always had some vision. However, as his sight deteriorated, he found everyday life increasingly difficult. Coming to terms with that change was challenging too.
Discovering new technology and support has helped him see that there are still different ways to approach some of those challenges.
“It’s a whole new world, isn’t it? It opens up doors that you didn’t know existed.”
Lee is now excited to continue learning how to use his Meta smart glasses and explore what they could help him do.
His experience is also an example of why conversations about new technology should include the voices of the people who may benefit from it.
Have your say on AI smart glasses
RNIB is currently inviting blind and partially sighted people to share their views on AI smart glasses.
You do not need to have used smart glasses to take part. The survey aims to help inform RNIB’s work with industry and the UK Government as the technology continues to develop.
Find out more and take part in RNIB’s AI smart glasses survey.
If you would like to learn more about accessible technology and the support available through Galloways, visit our Digital Hub.
