Press Release issued: 23 June 2010.
One in three people with a learning disability might also have a sight problem - but for thousands this will go undiagnosed, a leading charity is warning.
At an optometry practice in Edinburgh this morning, Health Minister Shona Robison will launch a new DVD that will give opticians a better understanding of how to tackle a hidden problem that might be excluding as many as 36,000 people from mainstream eye-care.
The Scottish Government has provided £45,000 over three years to enhance opticians' training.
Shona Robison said: "We are committed to helping to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Scotland so I am delighted to be launching this exciting new training tool. This is a unique and innovative approach in delivering training to opticians and will lead to quicker diagnosis of eye care problems for up to 36,000 Scots."
John Legg, director of the Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland, which produced the new DVD, said: "Several conditions - such as Down's Syndrome and cerebral palsy - are particularly likely to cause eye problems. Carers and professionals can sometimes assume someone has diminished capabilities and behaviours that challenge - but it could be that their sight is doing more to hold them back and they can't communicate it.
"We have produced this free DVD to help optometrists identify sight problems using different methods. For instance, half of the people in this group may also have difficulty reading the alphabet so the traditional eye-chart may not be an appropriate testing method for them.
"The prevalence of sight problems increases dramatically with the severity of the learning disability and with age. One report found this client-group generally experience eye problems ten years earlier than the general population."
The DVD follows the entire eye-care journey, from gathering information from a client before the appointment, to what alternative tools and techniques can be used to diagnose sight problems.
Professor Daphne McCulloch of Glasgow Caledonian University, an expert in the field who is featured on the new DVD, said: "RNIB is well-known for its work to improve the lives of people with visual impairment. As optometrists, we are striving to meet the challenge of providing a high standard of care to those with limited communication and those who may be uncomfortable being examined."
RNIB has pioneered eye-health awareness for people with a learning disability. Its dedicated team offers clients a functional vision assessment prior to a clinical eye-test. It also gathers information regarding a client's current capabilities to help the optometrist prepare for the appointment and can accompany the client there if need be.
Eye tests can also detect the first signs of Alzheimer's disease, which people with a learning disability are more likely to develop before the age of 30. Confirming the condition is present early on can have a major impact on the success of treatment.
William Leppard (23) from Dunfermline was registered as partially sighted when he was a child and used a white cane. But a recent re-examination, supported by RNIB assessment workers, showed that an increased strength of prescription for glasses was needed.
William has said that he was not worried about having his eyes tested with staff from RNIB there to support him. "Everything was explained to me before and during my eye check and the optometrist was nice," he said. "I remember the optometrist's chair and having my eyes looked at and I told my friends that they should have an eye test as well. My new glasses help me see better and enjoy the activities which I like to do." William is now confident to move around most environments without a cane.
The DVD is obtainable from learning.disability@rnib.org.uk,or telephone 0141 772 5588.