Blindness and Partial Sight
Each local authority keeps a register of blind and partially sighted people living in its area. The register is held by the social services department or, in some areas a local voluntary society for people with sight problems acting as agents for the local authority. The register is confidential and covered by data protection legislation.
Registration is voluntary but it is helpful in getting extra support.
However, anyone having difficulties because of poor sight is entitled to ask their local social services department to assess their needs, even if not yet registered.
HACB’s charitable objects enable it to help people “whether registered or not” and anyone needing advice, information or support can seek it.
Definitions Used for Registration
Registered Blind:
Technical Definition: Acuity below 3/60 or 1/18 and Acuity better than 3/60 but below 6/60 with a very restricted visual field.
Generally this means that if a person cannot read the top letter on an eye chart and their sight cannot be corrected using glasses etc. at 3 m in both eyes then they may be considered to be registered as severe sight impaired/blind.
Registered Partial Sight
Technical Definition: From 3/60 to 6/60 with a full field. Up to 6/24 with moderate restriction of visual field, opacities in the media or aphakia. 6/18 or better with a gross field defect (e.g. hemianiopia) or a marked constriction of the field (e.g. glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa)
Generally, if a person cannot read the top letter on an eye chart at 6 m (in both eyes) and their sight cannot be corrected using glasses or other means then they may be considered for registration as sight impaired/partially sighted.
Registration Statistics
On 31 March 2003, there were 157,000 people on the register of blind people in England. Since 1982 there has been an overall increase of 45,000 people (40% increase)
155,000 people were on the register of partially sighted people, an increase of around 6,500 (4%) since March 2000.
In Hampshire a total of 5,800 people were registered as blind or partially sighted.
Causes of Blindness
The most common cause of gradual onset bilateral blindness in the developed world is macular degeneration which is usually described as MD or in age related cases as AMD.
Diabetic Retinopathy is the second most common cause.
Other causes include: Diabetic Maculopathy ; Hypertensive Retinopathy: Cataracts: Chronic glaucoma: Chiasmal or bilateral optic nerve compression.
Bilateral optic nerve damage, e.g. tobacco amblyopia is another cause.
Across the world, chlamydial infection causing trachoma is one of the commonest recorded causes.
Other possible causes include Amaurosis fugax which is thought to result from a clot of plaque in the carotid artery breaking off and travelling to the retinal artery in the eye. This blocks the artery for a time and causes loss of vision in that eye for as long as its blood supply is cut off.
Atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries (in the neck) is the main risk factor for this condition. Risk factors for atherosclerosis include heart disease, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Symptoms include the sudden loss of vision in one eye. This usually only lasts seconds but may last several minutes. Some patients describe the loss of vision as a gray or black shade coming down over their eye.
Sudden loss of vision is an emergency requiring immediate referral to an eye emergency department. There are various causes including trauma, hysteria and methyl alcohol poisoning.
The Registration Process
Self Referral: using Form LVI a person with problems of sight loss can contact social services to seek help. The form is available from optometrists/opticians for appropriate patients.
Hospital Form RVI: issued by hospital eye clinics for referral (with consent) for a social care assessment where social and living needs become apparent, but where certification is not appropriate at that time.
Form CVI (previously BD8) formally certifies someone as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind). This form enables the local council to register the person. The form has to be signed by a consultant ophthalmologist certifying eligibility. Registration is voluntary but entitles people to various benefits and concessions.
Benefits of registering as blind or partially sighted
The register is the basic building block from which local authorities provide services for people who have sight problems.
This is a statutory requirement for local authorities and they must:
Conduct an assessment of need.
Provide information about services for visually impaired people in a format accessible to the individual.
Registration is also essential for claiming some financial benefits and accessing help (Note: HACB Does Not Require An Individual To Be Registered)
Upon receipt of the form social services are required to contact the person about being added to the register.
It is the duty of social services to assess individual needs and any support required.
Social services department should arrange a community care assessment,
Staff can then provide support for a range of activities, including safe mobility, daily living skills such as cooking and leisure activities.
They can also refer to other local services, including HACB, that offer further help and support.
HACB has long experience of the difficulties resulting from sight loss and the devastating effects if not properly advised and supported.
The individual needs, views and independence of the person with sight loss are of paramount importance to us and we have a dedicated professional Outreach Team, some of whom are themselves sight impaired, to advise and assist with the long list of issues that can arise.
The list includes feelings of social isolation, the fear of injury and accidents, concerns about restricted activities, hobbies and a need for constant support, the impact upon education and learning and loss of employment opportunity.
HACB’s Outreach Team can help address all these issues and offers practical support and the advice and information built up from years of experience gained by all those sight impaired people in Hampshire who have faced these issues and dealt with them.
In a recent survey of our service users we came across people working in hospitals, offices and commuting daily to work, raising families, going to the theatre, on trips and the pub! Around 800 people attend HACB Clubs and Groups weekly.
The report gave a wonderful snapshot of the daily life of sight impaired people who told us:-
“We just want to be treated like anybody else, after all, we’re not stupid – we just can’t’ see!”
|
Sight loss
