University College London (UCL) and Vision UK announce first Dementia and Sight Loss Conference

UCL and Vision UK are delighted to announce the first Dementia and Sight Loss Conference aimed at medical professionals including consultants, nurses and GPs as well as commissioners, scientists and carers. This novel event takes place 22 June 2018 at the Wellcome Trust in London (https://wellcome.ac.uk/) and aims to raise awareness and educate stakeholders of the issues affecting people with dementia and sight loss as well as discuss strategies for care.

Dementia describes a set of symptoms that can include memory loss, language difficulties and reduced thinking speed. There are around 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia. Of those, a third also have visual impairment. Having both conditions seriously affects quality of life and ability to conduct everyday activities and maintain independence. In addition, those with dementia may be less likely to seek or be able to access eye care meaning that many sight conditions may be going undiagnosed and untreated.

The conference, chaired by Mr Paul Ursell MD FRCOphth, MBBS, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists lead for dementia and sight loss and past Chair of the Vision UK Dementia and Sight Loss Committee brings together leading speakers including:

• Professor Seb Crutch, Head of Professorial Research Associate, at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL, Alzheimer’s Research UK Senior Research Fellow, Director of Created out of Mind, Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)
• Dr Mike Bowen, Director of Research, The College of Optometrists
• Hector Minto, Senior Technology Evangelist, Microsoft
• Dr Simon Read, Research Associate, School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University
• Gemma Jolly, Knowledge Manager, Alzheimer’s Society
• Speakers from RNIB, ABDO and Brunel University.
• Plus, personal stories from members of the Rare Dementia Support.

This promises to be a lively event with plenty of opportunity to put questions to the speakers.

The event is free, but tickets are limited so will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ucl-and-vision-uk-dementia-and-sight-loss-conference-tickets-45138423239

The full programme can be downloaded here: https://www.visionuk.org.uk/tickets-now-available-ucl-vision-uk-dementia-sight-loss-conference/