Channel 4 showed four adverts through the eyes of people with various sight loss conditions on Monday night.
Adverts from five companies, including Specsavers, Paco Rabanne, O2 and Amazon Echo were broadcast with filters that show how people with cataracts and diabetes, amongst other diseases, experience the world around them.
The films were made in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and were shown at 9:15pm and 9:30pm, during breaks in documentary The Undateables, which follows the love lives of disabled people.
With @RNIB, we present a special @O2 @PacoRabanne @amazon @FreeviewTV & @Specsavers ad break, applying filters to illustrate eye conditions. pic.twitter.com/RYkxTCjlvz
— Channel 4 (@Channel4) September 18, 2017
The adverts recreated the experiences of people with macular degeneration, which affects central vision, hemianopia, when half of vision is lost, and the characteristically blurry vision caused by cataracts.
Sophie Castell, director at RNIB, said the one-off ads would “help show viewers different sight loss conditions and what living with sight loss can be like”.
We've worked with @Channel4 to air a very special ad break tonight at 9.15pm as part of National Eye Health Week. #C4SightAdBreak pic.twitter.com/YggfYM5WBa
— RNIB (@RNIB) September 18, 2017
“The use of audio description across an entire ad break marks a cultural shift in advertising,” she said.
The ads were accompanied by an audio description, allowing those with limited sight to experience the modified videos as well.
This also coincides with National Eye Health Week, which runs from September 18-24, to promote regular eye tests.