November Newsletter No. 354
History of RNIB Eye Care Liaison Officers
It’s now 30 years since RNIB provided its very first Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO), pioneering a service which gives vital emotional and practical support for people with an eye condition diagnosis. Here they reflect on 30 years of ECLOs and the life-changing support they provide.
https://www.rnib.org.uk/news/history-of-rnib-eye-care-liaison-officers/
Doctor issues urgent health warning to millions of Brits over key issue with their diet
Ahead of the release of a new report, medical experts have issued an urgent warning to UK residents over their diets and some encouraged some major changes in order to support eye health. Full details here:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/doctor-issues-urgent-health-warning-33903403
RNIB predicts rise in sight loss cases
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has predicted that there will be a 27% rise in the number of people living with sight loss in the UK by 2035. This World Sight Day, the RNIB has called on the UK government to implement a National Eye Care plan to prevent avoidable sight loss and fix delays in eye care.
https://www.opticianonline.net/content/news/rnib-predicts-rise-in-sight-loss-cases
New accessible audio guide launches at the Oriental Museum
The Oriental Museum is making its collections more accessible to visitors with visual impairments, by launching a new accessible audio guide. The new free guide was created in collaboration with local charity, ‘Blind Life in Durham’, that supports blind and partially sighted people across the county. Visitors using the audio guide will be able to hear audio descriptions of 19 objects from the across the museum’s collections including an Ancient Egyptian stone carving of a queen, a magnificent model of a camel created in China over 1000 years ago and an intricately carved jade wine cup that may date to the time of Genghis Khan.
https://www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/latest-news/2024/10/om-visually-impaired-exhibition/
Hearing and sight loss hub opens in Perth city centre
A new Perth hub has been opened to help those with sight and hearing loss. Perth and Kinross charity VisionPK offers specialist advice and insights on sensory loss from the hub in the city’s George Street.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/hearing-sight-loss-hub-opens-33865301
'I can still have a life after sight loss'
A dance workshop for blind and visually impaired people in Leeds is helping to change the lives of those taking part. The workshops were set up by Leeds choreographer Sandrine Monin in 2022. Ms Monin has also been advising Chris McCausland’s professional dancer Diane Buswell on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing this year.
People with eyesight conditions could get up to £434 a month from DWP - check if you qualify
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It provides extra financial support to over 1.6 million people across the country.
Specsavers warn people of sight loss after figures reveal 70,000 could have condition by 2032
People are being warned to keep a close watch on their eye health after new figures showed more than 57,000 in the county are living with sight loss. Figures from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) show that sight loss can be caused by age-related problems, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. The RNIB statitucs show one in five people will experience sight loss in their lifetime.
ASDA Opticians adds new way for patients to get eye care advice and support from RNIB
People experiencing sight loss will be able to access essential support, information and advice to help adapt thanks to a new partnership between supermarket ASDA and a leading charity. ASDA employs Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians in 156 of it’s stores across the UK and has begun rolling out a partnership with RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) to enable those with existing or new eye conditions to self-refer to the charity.