What support services are available for patients experiencing sight loss, and how can I facilitate their access to these services?

Patients experiencing sight loss have access to several support services designed to help them manage their condition and maintain quality of life. These include low-vision services that provide aids and training to maximise remaining vision, and hospital eye services for diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions ².

In addition, patients should be informed about practical support such as compliance aids for eye drop administration, and the availability of eye clinic liaison officers (ECLOs) who offer information and assistance regarding their condition and services ¹.

Facilitating access to these services involves providing patients with clear information about their diagnosis and prognosis, the importance of treatment adherence, and how to contact support organisations and ECLOs ¹.

Referral pathways include issuing Letters of Vision Impairment (LVI), Referral of Vision Impairment (RVI), and Certificates of Vision Impairment (CVI) to enable registration and access to social care and benefits ¹.

As an admin in general practice, you can support patients by ensuring they receive information about these services, helping coordinate referrals to low-vision services or hospital eye clinics, and signposting them to ECLOs and relevant support groups ¹,².