Even if you don’t offer a low vision service in your practice, there are many things that you can do to help visually impaired people.
When a patient loses their vision, it invariably comes as a great shock. In a busy hospital clinic, where the patient often receives their initial visual impairment (VI) diagnosis, the ophthalmologist may not have had time to explain everything as thoroughly to the patient as they would like. So often, the most important thing the primary eyecare practice team can offer the VI patient is time to listen to their concerns. If you don’t feel confident answering any concerns in fullness, then signpost them to someone who can.
Your local hospital eye department may have an eyecare liaison officer (ECLO). If they do, it’s important that you know how to signpost or refer a patient to them. If you are not sure an ECLO is in place, or if one isn’t, then refer the patient to the RNIB helpline as they can put them in touch with someone.
Often, patients don’t know much about their eye condition – what has caused it, what treatments are available, what’s the prognosis is and so on. There’s a wealth of information available from various organisations, which can be printed off (in suitable formats) and given to patients or their carers.
At the very least, it is tremendously helpful to give the phone number and website details for the appropriate organisations; many patients have no idea that this help is available.
Many organisations also offer telephone counselling and ‘buddy’ services, so people can talk to someone who has gone through a similar experience. If you have more time available, you might discuss the importance of lighting and contrast; often the simple things make a world of difference, as discussed previously in this series.
If you don’t currently stock any magnifiers, you may want to consider doing so. Illuminated magnifiers will generally be the most useful, and suppliers are happy to advise which are the most popular.
If you don’t want to stock magnifiers, you could advise your patients where they can be obtained, which type might be most useful for them, and offer advice on how best to use them. But do explain that unless the patient tries them, it will be difficult to be accurate in your recommendations.
Finally, consider referral to other professionals. Is there a low vision practitioner in your area who could help your patient? What services and support do local sight loss charities provide?
If your patient is struggling to take any prescribed medicines, a letter to the GP can ensure that they are provided with a solution such as large print labels or tailor-made blister packs with the correct tablets in each section for the correct time of day. Large display and audio blood glucose monitors can be provided for diabetic patients.
A referral to social services may be appropriate if it is apparent the person is struggling with daily living task, especially if they live alone, and have no support from family or friends. You must, of course, obtain the patient’s consent before referring them.
The number of people in the UK with sight loss is set to increase significantly. It is predicted that by 2050 the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to more than four million1. This means we will be seeing more patients in our practices whose vision can’t be managed just by new spectacles, and we need to be able to help them find solutions, or refer them to someone else who can.
Do some research, and find out what is help is available – both nationally and locally to you. The RNIB Sightline directory is invaluable for this, and there are lots of useful links in our downloadable PDF.
Attend low vision CPD, and consider adding a low vision qualification to your CV. You could help make a big difference to someone’s life.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this series on low vision, and found some useful tips that you can utilise in practice to help improve the quality of life for your visually impaired patients. Please feel free to contact me if you have a question that hasn’t been answered – acrutcher@abdo.org.uk
Abi Crutcher is an extended services contact lens optician with a professional certificate in low vision. In addition to working in practice, Abi represents dispensing opticians on her regional optical committee and, through that, on the Welsh Optometric Committee. She represents optometry on her local primary care cluster committee – and is ABDO’s regional lead in Wales as well as the Association’s sustainability lead.
Reference
1. Office for National Statistics (2015) 2014 based National Population Projections: Principle projections.