Supporting Visual Impairment

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Practical advice and information for anyone involved or interested in visual impairment (people with substantial sight loss)

Sight loss is caused by a huge variety of different conditions, some of the most common are Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Diabetes, Cataracts and Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Information about these and other conditions can be obtained from the Royal National Institute for the Blind or the Worcestershire Association for the Blind.

Making the best of poor vision

There are over one million people registered as blind or partially sighted in the UK.  There are a further 700,000 people who have a sight problem which makes it difficult for them to read standard print.  It is estimated that less than 5% of registered blind people are totally without sight.

For everyone else who has some residual vision, there may be aids or techniques to help them make the most of the sight they have, an example of this might be someone with a central vision loss learning to use the peripheral vision.

Information about these techniques can be obtained from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) or the Partially Sighted Society.

• What to do
• Where to go
• Who to see

Q. Concerned about your sight deteriorating?
A. Visit your Doctor, who may advise a visit to your optician or the hospital eye unit.

Q. Have you suffered sudden sight loss, visual disturbance, distortion or injury to the eye?
A. Go  to  the  Accident  and  Emergency Unit of your local hospital.

Q. Do you want to talk about your worries and concern over sight loss or find out how to get services, support or specialist equipment?
A. Contact the following:

1. Worcestershire  Social  Services  Sensory  Impairment Team
2. Worcestershire Association for the Blind.
3. Your Doctor's surgery.
4. Local or national telephone helplines, e.g. Samaritans, Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Q. Do you have a hearing loss as well as a sight loss?
A. Separate booklets are available on dual sensory loss and on hearing impairment.