When you visit Pearl Phippen's home, please don't leave the door half open – only wide open or shut. Don't leave any obstacles around and try not to move things from where you found them.

Pearl knows where everything is in her home by memory and touch. If things are moved, or left lying on the floor, she can't see it.

Pearl Phippen requires aid for daily activities, but isn't hindered by her blindness. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

The 85-year-old has giant cell arteritis, an inflammation of the arteries behind the eyes. She is totally blind. Pearl heard the diagnosis near Christmas in 2004.

'It was bit traumatic,” says Pearl. 'I think I was probably hard to live with for a while. Part of it was the highlight of drugs that I had in the attempt at preventing blindness. They caused mood swings and all sorts of side effects.

'It was just a very lost feeling for a while, a bit of frustration at times.”

Pearl is a member of the Blind Foundation in Tauranga. As the not-for-profit organisation celebrates its 125th anniversary nationwide, Pearl shares her story with us.

Before she was blind, Pearl's eyesight was 'reasonably good”. Now, she uses a white stick to help navigate her way around her Tauranga apartment. She reads with talking books and recognises people by their voices.

A caregiver from the Blind Foundation arrives most mornings to help Pearl prepare for her day. But when she's not there, Pearl is left to fend for herself.

'I can recognise most of my clothes but I do mismatch sometimes,” says Pearl. 'I usually sort out the clothing I'm going to wear the following day.

'It's not all that difficult. You can feel the differences in clothes and you can get to memorise the colours. If you keep the old ones that you had when you could see it's much easier.”

It's no big deal, says Pearl. She still attends the University of the Third Age (U3A) twice a month and goes for regular walks with her girlfriends.

'Once you get your head around it and begin to do things, it's not all that difficult to accept. Well, it wasn't for me.

'I think going blind suddenly is probably easier in the long run than losing your sight gradually.

'People are constantly worrying about their eyesight if they've got some. Any deterioration seems to be quite a major setback for them. Once you know where you are, you're there and that's that.”

Pearl believes anyone who has lost their sight, particularly suddenly, would be wise to contact the Blind Foundation in Tauranga.

The Blind Foundation officially opened in 1890. Special events are being held throughout New Zealand to commemorate the 125th anniversary.

The Tauranga branch is hosting its anniversary luncheon at The Citz Club on August 1.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby has been invited to attend.

For more information about the Blind Foundation, contact 07 578 2376.