Research and policy: health

Are you looking for the latest facts, figures and thinking about sight loss and its impact on health services? In this section you can view the latest research documents and evidence, as well as find out about the UK Vision Strategy.

Prevention of sight loss research

Access to primary and secondary eye care

In 2011, RNIB commissioned the independent research organisation Shared Intelligence to explore the barriers and enablers that affect access to primary and secondary eyecare services across the UK. The research was commissioned to help design a range of evidence-based eye health pilots. Watch our introductory video, which outlines the key findings.

A review of evidence to evaluate effectiveness of intervention strategies to address inequalities in eye health care

In 2010, 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, and 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

The estimated prevalence of visual impairment among people with learning disabilities in the UK

Although there is considerable research evidence that visual impairments are more common among people with learning disabilities, there is no robust epidemiological data on the prevalence of visual impairments in people with learning disabilities in the UK. Consequently there has been no overall estimate of the number of people with learning disabilities in the UK with seeing difficulties. This report examines this.

Early reach research

Certification and Registration Processes

Certification and registration are important processes, which bring together health and social care for blind and partially sighted people. This research documents certification and registration processes from the perspective of professionals and patients, examining the relationship between health and social care and highlighting the related barriers and enablers.

Innovation and quality in services: Eye Clinic Liaison Officers

Eye care service providers face the challenge of addressing increasing visual impairment at the same time as seeking to improve access to treatment and health outcomes. Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) are an innovative way of supporting eye care services, making excellent use of available eye care resources and providing high quality and patient-centred services.