Title
Number of adults and children certified with sight impairment and severe sight impairment in England and Wales: April 2011-March 2012
Authors
Shaun Leamon
Publishers
RNIB and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Year of publication
2013
Background
The certificate of vision impairment (CVI) is used in England and Wales by Consultant ophthalmologists to formally certify a person as either severely sight impaired (SSI; blind) or sight impaired (SI; partially sighted). The CVI was introduced in England in September 2005 and in Wales in April 2007.
The Certifications Office, based at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, undertakes annual collection and analysis of epidemiological data contained on the CVI form. The work is conducted under the remit of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
This research briefing presents the findings from analysis of the CVI data in England and Wales covering the period 2011 to 2012. The briefing is the forth in a series of reports examining of CVI data. The research is conducted under the auspices of an RNIB research grant awarded to Moorfields Eye Hospital to support the ongoing analysis of CVI data.
Key findings - Data from April 2011-March 2012
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During the period 1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012, the total number of people in England certified blind or partially sighted was 23,616. The crude rate of certification was 44.5 per 100,000 of the population.
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The total number of certifications in Wales in 2011 to 2012 was 1463, resulting in a crude rate of certification of 47.8 per 100,000 of the population
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As with previous years, older adults comprise the majority of individuals certified with a visual impairment in England and Wales. The majority of people were certified sight impaired.
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AMD continues to be largest cause of certification in England and Wales. A large number of adults continue to lose their sight due to preventable causes, such as glaucoma and diabetic eye disease.
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