There is a variety of research carried out each year in relation to sight loss, from medical research into specific eye conditions to social research looking at the impact of sight loss on independent living, the impact of co-morbidity of sight loss and environmental issues. These provide a firm evidence base for supporting the work of professionals across health and social care when working with blind and partially sighted older people. In addition to research carried out by or on behalf of RNIB, this page provides information on key external research reports that professionals working in health and social care should be aware of.
RNIB Research
Sight loss data tool
RNIB have produced the Sight loss data tool, which gives factual information about sight loss issues for each region and local authority in England. Examples of the sort of information you can find include:
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estimated number of people living with age-related macular degeneration in the North West region.
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estimated number of people living with sight loss in Barnsley in 2011 and how this will change by 2020
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number of eye clinics in Birmingham - and what proportion have some form of early reach support in place.
By providing robust evidence on sight loss and those at risk of sight loss at a local level, the data tool can support a range of activities such as:
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service and strategic planning
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fundraising
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influencing
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marketing and communications.
It also helps local authorities to consider blind and partially sighted people when they carry out their Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs). These documents report on the health and wellbeing needs of local people. They look ahead at emerging challenges and projected needs in the future.
View the Sight loss data tool.
Finding your feet evaluation
The research briefing and full report of the Finding your feet - Next steps project is now available and provides useful insights for commissioners, delivery partners and blind and partially sighted people.
Some of the key findings of the research, undertaken by Shared Intelligence, were sustained increases in mental well being over four and 12 month periods and evidence of increased independence linked to confidence and reduced isolation.
Read the Finding Your Feet evaluation.
To find out more about Finding Your Feet programs contact jeff.page@rnib.uk
Circumstances of people with sight loss - RNIB and Natcen
This report published by Natcen and RNIB in July 2012 is a secondary analysis of Understanding Society and the Life Opportunities Survey. These are both large-scale general population surveys, and they allow us to use independent survey data to describe the circumstances of people sight loss.
Key Findings
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People living with sight loss experience a range of inequalities across many different aspects of their lives.
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People with sight loss experience more difficulty in accessing health services.
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People living with sight loss report having lower feelings of wellbeing.
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People living with sight loss are more likely to experience financial hardship.
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People living with sight loss face greater restrictions to their participation in education and employment.
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People living with sight loss report that they have less choice about how they spend their free time.
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Barriers remain to accessing travel, shopping and other activities.
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Family members, friends and neighbours provide the vast majority of support
To read the full report visit our research pages.
Evaluation of the Finding your feet - Next steps project
An external consultancy called Shared intelligence has undertaken a high level evaluation of the Finding your feet - Next steps project. This was a three year Department of Health project which piloted confidence building programmes based on the principles of co-production and peer support. The full report (including an executive summary) will be available shortly and provides useful insights for commissioners, delivery partners and blind and partially sighted people. The evaluation data found significant increases in the mental well being of participants over four and 12 month periods. The programme was also shown to promote in participants increased independence linked to confidence and reduced isolation, and reduced stress.
The report and briefing will be available on our website shortly, for more information please email: esiolderpeople@rnib.org.uk.
The Certification and Registration Processes: Stages, barriers and delays
RNIB commissioned Dr Tammy Boyce to document Certification and registration processes form the perspective of professionals and patients.
Key findings
Impact and process:
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Certification is life changing for patients.
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Numerous people are involved in certification and registration processes. Each of these professionals - have the potential to create barriers and delays or to improve the C&R processes.
The main barriers to being certified are:
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The uncertainty of when to certify on the part of the ophthalmologist, particularly for people with long term conditions such as AMD, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
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External pressures to reduce certification rates.
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Clinicians regarding certification as end of process, not a route to services and therefore failing to offer certification when patients are eligible.
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Poor awareness of the benefits of being certified and registered leading to failure to offer certification as clinicians saw no need/little value to patients.
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Incorrect assumptions about patients' views and believing patients do not 'need' to be certified.
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Lack of clarity regarding payment for signing the CVI.
To find out more and download the full report visit our research pages.
Tackling digital exclusion - Older blind and partially sighted people and the internet
BT has supported RNIB to conduct a study to identify the barriers and enablers to getting online for older people with sight loss, the types of online activities in which people would like to engage and provide recommendations that will enable older blind and partially sighted people to get online.
The report highlights some barriers that are specific to older people with sight loss including the perception that sight loss itself prevents them from getting online, the high cost of access technology and the lack of accessible training.
The recommendations are organised around the framework developed by the Communications Consumer Panel (2010). The report recommends that RNIB adopts the four stages of the Framework for Digital Participation (getting interested; acquiring the solutions; making it work; enjoying the benefits) as the basis of a new technology support strategy to reflect the scope of our vision and work. It also recommends that stakeholders in voluntary, public and private sectors work together to help older people with sight loss get and stay online.
To read the full report visit our Inclusive reading, television and technology research pages
Sight loss UK
Sight loss UK is an annual evidence review based on 45 key indicators that show us what life is like for people with experience of sight loss, their carers and those at risk of sight loss. This data summary provides professionals working in the sight loss sector with the latest evidence related to the lives of people with sight loss and clear information about the factors affecting people at risk of sight loss.
There are many key indicators related to older people, for example numbers of people in the UK over the age of 85, numbers of people with Dementia and sight loss, percentage of older people living with sight loss who are also living with depression.
To read the full report visit our research reports pages.
A review of evidence to evaluate effectiveness of intervention strategies to address inequalities in eye health care (2012)
RNIB commissioned Mary Seacole Research Centre (MSRC) at De Montfort University to undertake a review of the evidence relating to the causes of inequalities in eye health interventions to reduce inequalities, with particular reference to ethnicity, age, and socio-economic deprivation. The focus was on preventive activity in relation to specified eye conditions (glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macula degeneration (AMD) and cataract) and interventions designed to improve eye health outcomes.
To read the full report visit our prevention of sight loss research pages.
Falls and sight loss research (2011)
This briefing paper considers the evidence concerning the number and cost of falls attributed to partial sightedness and blindness. This is a complex area of research but this briefing paper offers a formula to make it easier for agencies to calculate the number of falls in their areas that could be attributed to sight loss.
To read the full report visit our Complex needs research pages.
Further information
For further information on the latest research by RNIB in relation to prevention of sight loss, early reach, person centred support and issues involved in creating an inclusive society, visit the RNIB research pages.
Other key research
Britain's Eye Health in Focus report 2013
The College of Optometrists has recently (21st Feb 2013) published a report called Britain's Eye Health in Focus update. This looks into how people view their eye health and the role of the optometrist. Based on research carried out in August 2012, it updates the previous report, published in 2011.
Download Britain's Eye Health in Focus report 2013.
Disability in the United Kingdom 2012 - Facts and figures
This report gives an overview of the key facts and figures surrounding disability in the UK today. It covers areas such as employment, health, housing, transport and education.
The report has a section on Sensory Loss that includes sight loss. Key statistics from the research include:
To find out more and download the full report visit the Papworth Trust website.
Royal College of Optometrists urge Brits to take eye health seriously
Research by the College of Optometrists released on 17th September 2012 reveals around five million Brits can't remember or believe it's been more than 10 years since they had an eye examination, despite the fact more than two thirds (66%) of the population recognise that you can have a serious eye problem without realising it as there may not be any symptoms.
The College of Optometrists has joined forces with the organisers of National Eye Health Week to urge people to treat their eye health just as seriously as they would other parts of the body.
Read the full press release on the Vision Matters website.
"Visual impairment and poor eye health is frequently ignored in care homes" says International Longevity Centre - UK
A recent report called "Undetected sight loss in care homes; an evidence review" by the International Longevity Centre has indicated that " Visual impairment and poor eye health is frequently ignored in care homes impacting on quality of life and independence for older people."
It further says " Care home residents are at a high risk of poor eye health, with estimates of up to half of this group having some form of visual impairment. Furthermore with at least two-thirds of all people living in care homes with dementia and with some forms of dementia increasing the likelihood of having an eye problem, the need to diagnose and target improved eye care and health for this group is imperative."
To read more about this and download the report: International Longevity Centre-UK website
Thomas Pocklington Trust Research - "Social inclusion, social circumstances and the quality of life of visually impaired older people"
Thomas Pocklington Trust recently released the results from analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). The main findings of the study were:
Older people with a visual impairment:
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are more likely to have a range of other, additional, physical health problems than sighted people
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are more likely to be in poor socio-economic circumstances
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participate less in social, civic and cultural activities than sighted people
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have similar levels of contact with members of their social network as sighted people, but the quality of their relationships tends to be poorer
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are more likely to score negatively on measures of well-being than sighted people, but this is entirely explained by their greater likelihood of being in poor circumstances.
For further information and to get a copy of the research visit: Thomas Pocklington Trust website
Age UK Agenda for Later Life Report (2012)
Age UK's Agenda for Later Life Report was launched at their Agenda for Later Life 2012 conference on March 8th. This is Age UK's annual publication on public policy for later life. Age UK tracks a number of key indicators relating to ageing and older people's issues in the UK.
To read the full report and find details about the conference visit the Age UK website.
Extra care housing for people with sight loss: lighting and design: Thomas Pocklington Trust (2011)
This publication presents findings from research about the design of extra care housing from the perspective of people with sight loss. The study asked 44 people living in 11 extra care housing schemes about their experiences of the buildings they lived in, evaluated their homes and reviewed data from a previous evaluation of 23 extra care housing schemes. The study produced a new tool for evaluating buildings called Evolve-for vision.
For further information and to download the full report, visit the Thomas Pocklington Trust website.
HRC report on vulnerable people (2011)
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published both a full report and executive summary of its inquiry into the human rights of older people receiving care at home. Around half of the older people, friends and family members who gave evidence to the inquiry expressed real satisfaction with their home care but the inquiry revealed evidence that the poor treatment of many older people is breaching their human rights.
The evidence gathered for the report included examples of people's sensory needs not being met, indeed the report comments on page 40, "Some organisations also highlighted that older people with sensory impairments (for example, older people with hearing impairments, older deaf/blind people) suffered even greater risk of isolation".
For further information and to download the full report, visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.