Seeing Better Together: optometrists learning more about people with learning disabilities

June 2009

There are well over a million people with some level of learning disability in the UK. People with learning disabilities are more likely to have eye problems, yet traditionally have problems accessing eye care. A new Continuing Education pack produced by Healthcall Optical Services in collaboration with SeeAbility and Replay Learning is aiming to make it easier for optometrists to offer the eye care that this group needs.

Co-author Maggie Woodhouse says, “The pack highlights the importance of eye examinations for people with learning disabilities, because they are at much higher risk of eye disorders. It also demonstrates how poor the access to eye examinations is at the moment for this vulnerable population.”

Packed with handy and practical tips, the aim is for the pack to be read by every practitioner to ensure that they, and their staff, are fully prepared when a person with learning disabilities needs an examination. Simple ideas, like ensuring recommendations and outcomes from the examination are written down can make a great difference to the person, as all their carers can then understand about their visual needs.

The pack is being sent out to every optometrist during Learning Disability Week.

• Read the press release
• Visit the Look up website for more information about eye care and vision for people with learning disabilities.