low vision services jenny lindsay co-deputy head of optometry belfast health and social care trust
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Low Vision Services Jenny Lindsay Co-Deputy Head of Optometry Belfast Health and Social Care Trust](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082917/5515bf0c550346486b8b6300/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Low Vision Services
Jenny LindsayCo-Deputy Head of OptometryBelfast Health and Social Care
Trust
![Page 2: Low Vision Services Jenny Lindsay Co-Deputy Head of Optometry Belfast Health and Social Care Trust](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082917/5515bf0c550346486b8b6300/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Definitions A person with low vision is one who has an
impairment of visual function for whom full remediation is not possible by conventional spectacles, contact lenses or medical intervention and which causes restriction in that person's everyday life.
A low vision service is a rehabilitative or habilitative process, which provides a range of services for people with low vision to enable them to make use of their eyesight to achieve maximum potential.
(Low Vision Services Consensus Group Document, 1999)
![Page 3: Low Vision Services Jenny Lindsay Co-Deputy Head of Optometry Belfast Health and Social Care Trust](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082917/5515bf0c550346486b8b6300/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Epidemiology N. Ireland has an ageing population Visual impairment increases with age
0-15yrs, 7/100,000 population reg B or PS 75-84yrs, 431/100,000 population reg B or
PS 85+yrs, 946/100,000 population reg B or PS(Evans et al, 1995 and 1996)
48 000 people with visual impairment in N. Ireland (NISRA)
![Page 4: Low Vision Services Jenny Lindsay Co-Deputy Head of Optometry Belfast Health and Social Care Trust](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082917/5515bf0c550346486b8b6300/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Standards 1 (DOH, 2007) Multi-disciplinary, multi-agency approach
(health, social care and voluntary providers) Flexible and able to meet the needs of those
with additional disabilities e.g. learning disabilities
Accessible (referral and location) Personnel suitably trained or undergo training
programme leading to accreditation Service improvement, monitoring and
evaluation of the service – include user opinions
![Page 5: Low Vision Services Jenny Lindsay Co-Deputy Head of Optometry Belfast Health and Social Care Trust](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082917/5515bf0c550346486b8b6300/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Standards 2 (DOH, 2007) Comprehensive range of services –
Functional visual assessment Range of optical, non-optical and
electronic aids available Training and/or therapy Links to other services (home
assessment and mobility, education and employment services)
Access to support, advice and counselling
![Page 6: Low Vision Services Jenny Lindsay Co-Deputy Head of Optometry Belfast Health and Social Care Trust](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082917/5515bf0c550346486b8b6300/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Service models “Traditional” hospital optometry low vision
clinic “One stop shop” e.g. Birmingham Focus, RNIB
Judd Street, Gateshead Community model e.g. Welsh Low Vision Scheme
Main advantage is ease of access More challenging cases difficult to manage Initial set-up and accreditation
To date no reliable research to compare outcomes or cost-effectiveness with different models
![Page 7: Low Vision Services Jenny Lindsay Co-Deputy Head of Optometry Belfast Health and Social Care Trust](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082917/5515bf0c550346486b8b6300/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Northern Ireland 2 bases Royal Victoria Hospital and Altnagelvin
Area Hospital Outreach services at 12 other locations
throughout N. Ireland Weekly clinic at University of Ulster, Coleraine Joint optometric and rehabilitation assessments Wide range of visual function tests and low
vision aids 67% of LVAs loaned at initial appointments are
illuminated stand magnifiers and 63% ≤x5 magnification (Lindsay et al, 2004)
![Page 8: Low Vision Services Jenny Lindsay Co-Deputy Head of Optometry Belfast Health and Social Care Trust](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082917/5515bf0c550346486b8b6300/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Benefits and Challenges 69% use LVAs regularly, 96% benefited
from rehab support and 96% overall reported benefit from attending the LVC (Lindsay et al, 2004)
Number of LVC appointments risen from 2500 to 5000 in last 10 years
Waiting times 6 months in some locations
Future – do we extend current service or look at alternative ways of providing low vision services?