Visual Impairment & Sensory Services
As community based eye care professionals we are well placed to discuss low vision aids, magnifiers and lighting but also to provide an understanding to patients of correct pathways, resources, charities and support available locally to allow independent living.
Referral for registration can be done via the Essex LOC referral form which has a specific tick box for CVI (Certificate for Vision Impairment) registration. Criteria for registration includes both visual acuity and fields loss. Please insure that all referrals are filled in clearly including previous ocular history.
There are two levels of registration for Visual Impairment:
Sight Impaired: “substantially and permanently handicapped by defective vision caused by congenital defect or illness or injury”
Visual acuity between 3/60 and 6/60 with full visual fields.
Visual acuity of up to 6/24 with a moderately reduced visual fields.
Visual acuity of 6/18 with a significantly reduced visual fields.
Severely Sight Impaired: “so blind as to be unable to do any work for which sight is essential”
Visual acuity of less than 3/60 with full visual fields.
Visual acuity between 3/60 and 6/60 with a severe reduction of visual fields.
Visual acuity of 6/60 or above with very reduced visual fields especially with inferior field loss.
Anyone can have access to an LVA assessment without certification.
See also http://essex-loc.org/low-vision-services/
| Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) Colchester and Southend trusts have ECLO who work in hospital eye clinics to support people diagnosed with sight loss, they have been specifically trained by RNIB: ECLO list 2022 Southend ECLO: Tracey 01702 435555 Ext 7025 Broomfield ECLO: Christine Pratt christine.pratt@nhs.net Colchester ECLO: Christine 01206 548196 Orsett / Thurrock ECLO: Sarah Jane Piper 07962 180390 sarah-jane.piper@nhs.net Whipps Cross ECLO: Kate Kotschy 07895214871 kate.kotschy@rnib.org.uk Nationally RNIB also have sight loss advisers that can be contacted on their helpline 0303 123 9999. More information can be found at https://www.rnib.org.uk/ecloinformation |