Only 96 out of an estimated 28,000 registerable visually impaired persons, resident in Northern Ireland, currently make use of guide dogs for the blind. Results from this study indicate that guide dog owners represent a young, healthy and highly motivated subgroup of blind persons who have been profoundly visually impaired for prolonged periods of time. The implications of future ophthalmological developments, and of the educational and employment requirements of the visually impaired, are discussed.