Sep 2, 2025
Victoria Nolan: Rewriting the Story of Vision Loss
When Victoria Nolan lost her sight shortly after the birth of her daughter, she faced a crossroads. Vision loss could have defined her by limitation—but instead, she chose to redefine what was possible.
For her, the possible was what many think of as impossible—taking up rowing and becoming a four-time Paralympian and six-time world championship team member.
Now, the world champion rower, advocate, and television host is sharing the wisdom she’s gained in her newest book, Refocus: The Essential Guide to Living a Happy and Successful Life with Vision Loss. Co-written with a deep understanding of the challenges—and possibilities—of blindness, Refocus is the guide Victoria wishes she’d had when her own vision began to fade. It offers practical strategies, encouragement, and a reminder that you are not alone, whether you’re learning to navigate your environment, advocate for yourself, or reimagine your career and relationships.
For Victoria, resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about pushing forward with purpose. And she believes organizations like Fighting Blindness Canada make this possible by funding groundbreaking research and delivering education and connection programs that equip people living with vision loss with what they need to move forward with confidence.
“Education empowers people with knowledge—whether that’s learning about your condition, understanding your rights, or discovering tools and strategies to live independently. Education replaces fear with clarity, and uncertainty with possibility,” she says.
“The emotional impact of vision loss can be just as challenging as the physical, and having a community of people who truly understand what you’re going through is life changing.”
Refocus is available now.
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