Gloucestershire Adult Low Vision Service Launching Soon

Primary Eyecare will launch its Gloucestershire Low Vision service on 1 June 2023.

Commissioned by Gloucestershire ICB, Primary Eyecare’s practitioner network will be providing the service to patients signed up with Gloucestershire based GPs. Domiciliary appointments will also be available.

The main aim of the service is to improve the quality of life of adults living with low vision by providing advice and access to the appropriate support and services. It includes providing patients with a range of magnifying and adaptive devices to help them maximise their remaining vision so they can continue to live safe, productive and rewarding lives.

Commenting on the imminent launch, Ankur Trivedi, one of Primary Eyecare’s clinical leads, said:

‘We are excited to be launching a new community low vision service in Gloucestershire and to be playing a key part in providing the local community with the support and resources they need to lead full and independent lives.

Our excellent team of low vision specialists is dedicated to helping patients find the solutions to vision challenges that are most suited to their needs. We are confident that this new service will be widely used and that it will make a very positive impact.

We encourage anyone who might be struggling with low vision to get in touch with one of our local optometry practices so that we can advise what help is on offer.’

What is Low Vision?

The term ‘Low Vision’ is applied when people have difficulty seeing, even with prescription glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery. It is a condition that leads to problems carrying out daily activities such as travelling, reading, shopping, cooking, watching television and going online.

Incidences of Low Vision are on the rise – the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) estimates that over two mission people are living with sight loss in the UK today. Those aged 65 or older account for 90 per cent of new cases being reported – and the number of people in this age group looks set to increase by almost 50% over the next 20 years.

Primary Eyecare’s Low Vision referral service aims to improve the quality of life of life of adults living with low vision by providing them with access to the appropriate support and services. This extends to providing people with a range of magnifying and adaptive devices to help them maximise their remaining vision so they can continue to live safe, productive and rewarding lives.

Are You an Optometry Practice Interested in Providing This Service?

Practices in the Gloucestershire area that are not already delivering this service but would like to do  to do so, are invited to complete the expression of interest form here.