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Are you interested in helping people with learning disabilities get better access to eye care? One in three people with learning disabilities has a sight problem, yet this group is least likely to get the help they need, according to SeeAbility, formerly The Royal School for the Blind.

As part of its eye 2 eye campaign, SeeAbility has created the Look Up Optometrists and Opticians database. The database holds details of practice accessibility, the sort of additional tests available, such as Kay picture tests, whether the practice offer domiciliary visits, and whether people with learning disabilities and their carers can visit the practice before the test. It also allows practitioners to input the sort of information that they’d find useful for people with learning disabilities or their carers to supply prior to a test.

Martin Thomas, Manager of the Look Up Information Service says, “We need to increase the number of practices on our Look Up Optometrists and Opticians data base so people with learning disability and their supporters throughout the UK can access the eye care they need from local and experienced practitioners who are better able to understand their specific needs. We’ve had enquiries from as far afield as New Zealand looking for UK optometrists with specialist skills for a relative, so we know that the database is needed.”

Optometrist Lynn Stacey says, “I have enjoyed seeing patients who have come to me via the database. It can be a bit more challenging and time consuming to see them but it is very rewarding to help someone who might not otherwise have a sight test to make the best of their vision.”

Dr Rob Hogan, President of the College of Optometrists says, "Our members are committed to providing first class fully funded eye care services to people regardless of their disability but we are aware that we need more information to design a service which is more accessible to people with learning disabilities. By working together we hope to be able to recognise the critical issues and address them so that we can significantly improve the eye care of people with learning disabilities in the UK."

Visit http://www.lookupinfo.org/index.php?id=services_in_your_area to see the database in action.

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