07 October 2026
When Mike Richards’ daughter was diagnosed with Stargardt macular dystrophy at the age of 10, after the initial waves of shock, the firefighter was left with questions.
What treatments were available? Will there be a cure? What will her future look like?
Richards struggled to find the answers to these questions on a single website. Now, close to two decades after his daughter’s diagnosis, Richards has devoted his spare time to ensuring that other families do not become lost in an online maze while searching for the answers they need.
Richards has developed Sight Atlas UK – a website with information on an ever-expanding list of eye conditions, as well as guidance on benefits, clinical trials, employment, daily living and local support services.
“I wanted it to be a website where people can find everything they need to know – and if it’s not there, it will link to the right place,” Richards explained.
“If I can help to make things easier for even one person, then I know I have done something good,” he said.
The website has a range of accessibility features, including text-to-speech and the ability to select a visual theme that is optimised for different eye conditions.
Daily living advice includes tips on exercising, cooking and parenting with sight loss, while a technology section provides a helpful list of assistive technology across different categories.
Richards sought guidance from people with sight loss on the website design. This included his daughter, Alice Richards, who now works as a primary school teacher.
“I would get her to test it for me and let me know if anything was missing,” he said.
Richards performs a monthly audit of the website to ensure that information on the latest trials and treatments is current.
The website began with information on 17 different eye conditions. However, this list has expanded to 26 as people with sight loss and their families have reached out to Richards to ask if additional conditions can be included.
“We’ve had really fantastic feedback so far,” he said.
If there is a problem, my first thought is ‘How can I solve it? How can I help?’
Richards built the website – with the help of artificial intelligence – alongside his fulltime job as a firefighter.
He told OT that as a father his instinct as a parent has always been to provide practical support.
“If there is a problem, my first thought is ‘How can I solve it? How can I help?’” he said.
Richards shared that while all parents worry about their children, sight loss creates another layer of uncertainty.
“I know things are harder for her, and if I could take that away I would love to,” he said.
“Sight loss comes with its challenges, but Alice copes amazingly well,” Richards shared.
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