‘Eye Know’: translating needs from annual health checks for people with learning disabilities to demand

What is it about?

This article discusses a pilot project that was undertaken in Berkshire alongside SeeAbility to improve access to eye checks for people with learning disabilities. The pilot explored the knowledge of people with learning disabilities and their carers about eye checks resulting in partnership working with local opticians to develop a service that would meet the needs of this population group.

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Why is it important?

The pilot project enabled us to explore why people with learning disabilities were not accessing eye checks that in turn enabled us to provide educational workshops and make reasonable adjustments with local opticians. As a result we witnessed an increase in access to this service alongside the diagnosis of treatable eye conditions. Eye care is so important not only for detecting eye conditions but also for maintaining good eye care and preventing long term sight loss. A number of people with learning disabilities were not aware of the importance of eye care as their perceptions consisted of this service related to people who needed glasses for reading.

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