What is it like being blind or visually impaired?

What was your experience initially? Did you suddenly lose your vision (or much of it) or was it a gradual process? How do you cope in the day to day and how has your mindset changed as you've grown more accustomed to the experience?

What character transformation is visible, obviously depends on the person, but what have you seen happen?

For those with family or friends who are blind, how have you adapted to working with their condition (if that's the suitable word?) eg helping them with particular tasks?

Just curious about this experience and the character development involved, sorry if it's too personal for some, you definitely don't have to share if you don't want.