I have the same problem. A support cane has not worked. I've gotten somewhat used to it over the years and I can partially adapt. I wish I had advice for you.

I utilize a few techniques. #1 Try to stay balanced if you’re carrying stuff (like having grocery bags split evenly between your hands). # 2 I avoid stairs if I can. If I can’t, I put 60% of my weight on the rail so if I slip, I’ll be able to catch myself. #3. I find looking a few steps ahead of my feet works best for me, not sure it will work for you.

I remember once very very soon after I went blind, an absolutely evil person told me that blind people can't reliably stand on one leg. Sure enough, I tried, and I toppled over like a hanna-barbera cartoon character who's just been hit on the head.

Then that person told me that it was a total myth and the real purpose of this exercise was to show that if someone tells you you can't do something, you'll find a way to fail. So I tried standing on one leg again, and I was fine.

Unless your inner ear is messed up, your sense of balance is fine. Some people get a condition where the fluid in the balance sensors in your ear gets thickened, which can affect it, but unless you have been diagnosed with that by a doctor, don't assume you have it.

I don't know what other medical conditions you might have and of course there's lots of things that can make it easy to fall over, but in general, never ever let people tell you you can't do something. Your body will find a way to make it true and from my perspective, I have enough problems. I don't need my own body messing with me.

Hi, sorry your post is not clear. Why do you lose your balance? What is your visual impairment?
If you are losing your balance when walking because a lack of depth perception or because you can't see obsticles, I would strongly recommend the use of a mobility cane.
There are many reasons why people lose there balance, and it may be due to something else besides the visual impairement.

I lost almost all my vision due to a brain tumor so we can start from there. My balance was good before and stayed decent which i admit came from a combination of cane technic and slowing down to think through what i was about to approach. Yes new area's introduce new challenges but never try to force the situation, calm and cool.

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Hi. Have you tried talking to someone who works in ONM? Also, Eyes Free Fitness has some free balance building exercises. I hope that this helps.

Are you getting good physical therapy? If not, I would personally suggest talking to your doctor about that ASAP as there is a lot they can do to work on your balance, help you make modifications that make you safer at home, etc.

I think you can use a cane with a wheelchair. I don't know how, but someone else might.

Maybe a support cane could be useful.

Update: to everyone suggesting I get some actual O & M training/cane/advice from someone who knows what they're talking about, it's a **wonderful** idea, but I don't know that I can. I called my local service last year hoping for a bit of advice about stairs due to my depth perception, and my sudden habit of tripping on literal shadows, and she laughed at me and said 'this is for vision impaired people'. After I told her all my (maybe alone, minor, but together, moderate) vision issues-amblyopia, suppression, double vision, lack of depth perception, and light sensitivity to the point that leaving the house even at night requires dark glasses.

Maybe I just need to get the guts to call again?