The Visual Impairment Charitable Trust Aotearoa NZ (Victa) would advocate for more than 80,000 people who are ineligible for assistance from the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, Dr Lynley Hood said.
''The issue needs to get on the public agenda. Until now, people have assumed that if you lose your sight [partially] the [blind] foundation will look after you, and that's just not true.''
Dr Hood (70), herself visually impaired, said many people lived compromised lives because of the condition, when basic things could be done to help them.
''Having trouble reading means you're illiterate'', making participation in society and advocating for themselves difficult for visually impaired people, the Dunedin woman said.
The charity, which started last month, is seeking a select committee inquiry into services for the visually impaired.
''There's this huge group of people facing the devastation of vision loss with no support and nobody advocating for them.
''We're not asking for more than our share. We're just saying `here's a problem that's been overlooked'.''
In time, it was hoped the organisation could hire staff, but it needed funds. Brochures, which were going like ''hot cakes'', were designed as a gift to the new organisation.
For her 70th birthday, Dr Hood had asked for donations for Victa, which helped with initial costs.
One of the organisation's first projects was a Dunedin pilot scheme distributing high visibility walking sticks and jackets for visually impaired and/or elderly pedestrians. Funding had been secured from a road safety trust, and Dr Hood was sourcing the equipment.
Victa would work with other organisations to initiate such projects.
The other founding trustees are Associate Prof Gordon Sanderson, of the University of Otago's ophthalmology department, Kerry Buchan and Dr Don Brash. Apart from Dr Brash, the founding trustees were all based in Dunedin.
Those seeking further information could contact 0800 20 66 20.
