If you find it hard to see things clearly, even after you’ve had your eyes tested and are wearing the right glasses or contact lenses a low vision assessment may help you to make the most of your vision.
You may have been told that there is nothing that can be done to improve the medical condition of your eyes. However, there may be a lot that you can do to improve the way you use the sight that you have.
The staff at the Low Vision Centre can advise and help you make the most of your vision. The centre is part of the Camden and Islington Sensory Needs Service working closely with the vision rehabilitation specialists at social services.
The assessment is carried out by a specialist optometrist (optician) will be able to assess your vision and prescribe, if necessary, glasses, loan you a magnifying glass or other low vision aids to help you with specific tasks. They may recommend other ways of achieving the tasks that are causing you difficulties. They will help you to learn how to use magnifiers which is an important step.
With your permission the optometrist will then ask the vision rehabilitation specialist to help you with any additional needs that cannot be solved with a magnifier. However in some cases you may have already seen the vision rehabilitation specialist and had a thorough needs assessment and in this situation the optometrist will ask your permission to share the results of your low vision assessment with them. This is important as it helps both teams tailor the support you need.
The low vision service is free of charge and all low vision aids are loaned to you for as long as they are of use. If you need new glasses you may need to pay for them, although many people are eligible for NHS help towards the cost of these. To find out more about how you can get help towards the cost of glasses you can ask the optometrist who sees you on the day.
We can do home visits for those unable to get out but where possible it is recommended you come into to the centre in Kings Cross as not all the equipment is portable.
We also provide specialist eye care for adults with learning disabilities which is free of charge.
You do not need to registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired to use our service.