Reflections on sight loss - RNIB

What I do is...
example I’ll shine the pen torch on my hand
and on their hand and then shine it in my eye
and ask if I can shine it in their eye.
The first sight test can be a very scary and
daunting experience for someone who has
limited understanding. We also use a lot of
real-life photographs that VILD have
developed. We might arrange for the person
to visit the optometry practice once just to sit
in the waiting room, before the sight test
itself. Eye tests can be done at home or at a
day centre to avoid disruption to the person’s
routine. It’s part of my job to find out what
suits people and where they feel comfortable.
We’ve built up a very good rapport with
optometrists in the area, including
domiciliary services. At the moment
optometrists do not have special training to
work with people with a learning disability. We
have received a grant from the Scottish
Government to develop training for
optometrists and are in the process of
developing a DVD and a learning and training
pack. VILD also runs training sessions for
rehabilitation workers.
Other issues may arise as a result of the
functional vision assessment or sight test.
We recently had a gentleman in his 40s who
had a cataract. My role also includes
supporting people to attend hospital
appointments, helping to interpret clinical
information and giving them follow-up
support.
What makes the job worthwhile to me is
meeting someone who can’t see 10
centimetres in front of their nose, and
knowing that can be fixed. Every day is
satisfying, and every different person has a
different outcome. People with learning
disabilities tend to have many health issues
and quite often vision problems are
overlooked. I think it’s just that feeling that
you made a difference to someone that
counts.
“The first sight test can be a
very scary and daunting
experience for someone who
has limited understanding”
About learning disability
At least one in three people with a learning
difficulty will also have serious sight loss,
although the figure may be significantly
higher. Often this sight loss goes
undetected.
The RNIB Visual Impairment and Learning
Disability Services aims to identify sight
loss and create opportunity by increasing
awareness of the prevalence of
under-detection of sight loss and the
consequences for people with a learning
disability. The service also has specialist
expertise in providing sight tests for people
with a learning disability.
VILD provides services across the UK for
services users, parents and carers, and also
supports professionals and organisations
working with people with a learning
disability and sight loss.
For further information, visit
www.rnib.org.uk/learningdisability or
contact Visual Impairment and Learning
Disability Services, RNIB Scotland,
Springfield Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow,
G64 1PN – telephone 0141 772 5588
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