Vision is important in helping people understand the world around them and move safely in day to day life, so it’s vital people with learning disabilities are supported to access the right eye care.
Adults with learning disabilities are 10 times more likely to have sight problems than other adults, according to SeeAbility, a national charity that supports people with sight loss and disabilities. However, many don’t receive regular eye tests or the correct eye care. This can put them at risk of losing their sight or spending their life with blurred vision, which can seriously undermine their quality of life and lead to increased dependency.
This National Eye Health Week (18-24 September), Skills for Care is working with SeeAbility to urge all adult social care employers to ensure the people they look after receive the eye care they need.
Stephen Kell, SeeAbility’s national manager for eye care and vision, says: “Adults with learning disabilities may not know if they have a sight problem and even if they [do], they may not be able to tell someone. We all need to make sure that people are getting the right support to look after their eyes.”
Everyone, including people with learning disabilities, should have an eye test every two years or more frequently if needed. And adults with learning disabilities are entitled to an annual health check with their GP, which should include questions about eye care.
SeeAbility works with lots of groups and individuals to improve eye care for people with learning disabilities, and it has overseen positive outcomes when people receive the support they need to care for their sight.
When Laura, an adult with learning disabilities, moved into a nursing home and her eyesight deteriorated, SeeAbility worked with her and the people who looked after her to ensure her eye care was managed.
SeeAbility helped Laura’s team to think about what eye care she needed and coordinated this information with the nursing home, community teams, the optometrist and her family.
“We arranged for a domiciliary sight test for Laura where a trained optometrist visited her home and worked with Laura’s support team to communicate with her about her eye care,” says Kell.
As a result Laura had surgery on her cataracts, which helped her vision. Her improved eyesight means she’s now more outgoing and enjoys taking part in activities.
Kell says: “Her story shows why it’s so important to ensure everyone, especially people with learning disabilities, gets the right eye care.”
If you care for adults with learning disabilities, here’s how you can help them to safeguard their sight.
- Organise an eye test for them at least every two years, or more often if needed.
- Use SeeAbility’s Functional Vision Assessment Tool to understand how people with learning disabilities use their sight, and how to recognise signs that they might have difficulty seeing.
- Use SeeAbility’s optometrist database to find a local optometrist who offers additional services for people with learning disabilities such as –picture tests instead of letter ones, longer appointments, multiple visits including familiarisation visits, easy read information and staff who’ve had training about the specific needs of people with learning disabilities.
- Ensure the individual and staff know when the glasses should be worn, for example, while reading, watching TV or at all times.
- Record details of the individual’s eye care and vision needs in their support plan, communication passport, health action plan and annual reviews.
- Support the individual to clean their glasses regularly.
Find out more
Skills for Care has lots of resources to ensure your workforce has the right skills and knowledge to provide high quality care.
You can also download factsheets and films from SeeAbility about eye tests, wearing glasses and eye conditions for people with learning disabilities and those who care for them here.
