Information and guidance for eye clinic staff

We want to raise standards and improve the quality of information and support provided to those newly diagnosed or living with sight loss and their families, friends and carers.

You are key to helping blind and partially sighted people to come to terms with their condition and helping to improve their quality of life.

Certification and Registration

The importance of Certification and its difference to Registration can be confusing. Download our helpful guidance to understand the differences and learn about the impact it can make to your patients.

• Certification and Registration explained

Changes to Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) form in England

The new CVI form is simpler, easier for patients to understand, and easier for staff to complete, and there are no longer separate forms for adults and children. The revised CVI form also provides more information where patients can obtain further advice and support. The information from the form will be used to examine the causes of sight loss helping to prevent others losing their sight; and can also be used to identify any patterns in certain eye conditions and help with planning services. Read the FAQs for professionals.

Practice guidance, quality frameworks and assessment tools for eye clinic support services

ECLO and other Sight Loss Advisers

This document defines the activities and associated standards for Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLOs also known as Eye Clinic Liaison Officers) and has been updated to replace the first ECLO Framework (and turquoise book) published in 2014.

• ECLO Quality Framework and Practice Guidelines (Word Doc)

• ECLO Quality Framework and Practice Guidelines (APDF)

Quality standards and guidance

Good practice guidelines for ECLOs

The following good practice guidelines for Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) have been developed to support ECLOs to deliver consistent and good quality support:

• People with Learning Disabilities: Good practice guidelines

• Children, Young People and Families: Good practice guidelines

• Glaucoma: Good practice guidelines

• Dementia: Good practice guidelines

• Employment: Good practice guidelines

• Certification and Registration: Good practice guidelines

• Stroke: Good practice guidelines

• Driving: Good practice guidelines 

Quality standard for people with sight loss and dementia in an ophthalmology department

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the VISION 2020 UK Dementia and Sight Loss Committee have developed a quality standard to help eye clinics and ophthalmology departments provide high quality care for patients with dementia. 

• Download the Quality standard for people with sight loss and dementia in an ophthalmology department

ECLO Referral Guidelines

These referral guidelines have been designed for ECLOs to share with medical professionals, clinical staff, GPs, Optometrists and Nurses (but not clients/service users) to spread the word about who might benefit from a referral to the ECLO service. There are A3, A4 and A5 versions, with space for the ECLO to add their contact details.

• ECLO Referral Guidelines A5 leaflet

• ECLO Referral Guidelines A4 leaflet

• ECLO Referral Guidelines A3 poster

Information on the Low Vision Services Assessment Framework

The Low Vision Services Assessment Framework is a tool provided by RNIB for assessing the quality of care offered by providers of low vision services. This framework was originally commissioned from Cardiff University and partners as part of The Low Vision Service Model Evaluation (LOVSME) project, and has been adapted and streamlined by colleagues at RNIB and Action for Blind People.

This tool is designed to be used by providers of all types of low vision services to enable them to demonstrate the value and worth of their service and to promote discussion about whether and where there are areas for improvement and how this might be achieved.

•  Low Vision Services self assessment tool