Supporting People with Visual Impairment course for GPs

This session aims to increase your awareness of the issues surrounding visual impairment and the benefits of specialised rehabilitation.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in January 2022.

Learning objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• list the psychological and social problems associated with chronic visual impairment
• explain the definitions of blindness and partial sightedness, and the process and benefits of registration
• describe the impact that eye problems may have on disability and fitness to work
• explain the practical measures that GPs and practices can take to make their premises, staff and services suitable for people with visual impairment
• list optical and non-optical low vision devices available to low vision patients, and the barriers to accessing them

Sight loss is now a major health issue, affecting about two million people in the UK. The vast majority are older people, although an estimated 80,000 working-age people and 25,000 children are affected by sight problems in the UK.