Blind in one eye.

chrisb1976_2

Hi all,

I've been completely blind in one eye after having an accident on my bike when I was 12.

I'm now 29 and someone told me I might be able to claim some money for free eye tests (and maybe more).

Can anyone point me in the right direction and maybe give me some advise about this?

Cheers,
Chris.

wkdblue

Hiya!

Can I just ask, are you registered with social services as blind or partially sighted? This is usually the way one would recieve any entitlements to free eye tests or suchlike...

chrisb1976_2

No I'm not, well don't think I am.

Should I be?

No one has ever said anything to me about it until recently.

Last time I had it checked (about 6months ago) at the Opticians they said my sight was ok in my working eye. :T

Penny-Pincher!!

My DD (11) has 30% vision in one eye and 50% in the other-she is counted as legally blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other As shes under 16, she doesnt have to pay, but Im not sure with you hun..LOL. Are you on any benefits? I have seen Specsavers and Boots offering free eye tests on specific days (probably when not busy) so may be worth checking locally.

When DD is older, Id argue that as she is blind in one eye, she should receive an eye test at half price;)

Good luck

PP
xx

wkdblue

Please read this link for info - half way down the page is a section called 'The cost of an eye test'.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_gettingeyetest.hcsp#P97_5189

chrisb1976_2

Thanks for your help. Looks like I don't qualify for a eye test or anything else for that matter. Oh well. I'll probably have to look into what is needed to be registered as blind/partically sighted.

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Hope this helps. Most councils no longer keep a register for visual impairments because it would be totally inaccurate and consequently be of no help to them in planning services.
The reason it's totally inaccurate is that registering confers no benefit, so people don't bother.
People with a sensory impairment can be helped with education and employment if they need it.

wkdblue

You need to be referred by the eye clinic or by other professionals to social services - they will then carry out an assessment.

All social services should have a sensory loss department which keeps a record of all blind and partially sighted people. You can find out more on the Department of health website - try searching for CVI (Certificate of Visual Impairment).

You can only be in reciept of a service if you are registered - this applys everywhere in England!!!

Best of luck and please message again if you need any more help!

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Not all councils Sensory Impairment Teams keep accurate records and many no longer keep a register. The reasons for this are the most sensory impairment is age related and for instance there would be little point in someone on a waiting list for cataract surgery registering and then de-registering a few months later after surgery. These people would probably not be assessed as needing a service as the problem woud be temporary, in the same way as someone with a broken leg in a cast for several months would or after a hip replacement would not get services.
Local authorities manage to recover only a small percentage of equipment on loan to help with a sensory impairment when someone dies, as the last thing on most families minds in that situation is returning the equipment. The likelihood of any register being accurate is vanishingly small, it would in all probability become increasingly inacurate as people registered and their families failed to deregister them when they died. There is no requirment for older peoples residential and nursing homes to register any of their residents whose sight or hearing becomes impaired.
If someone sight is so poort they should contact the social services team for assessment if they need help with daily living. However being blind in one eye would probably not qaulify for services as it does not disqualify one from driving, for instance.
Benefits are available for those who need help, in the form of Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance.
If someone can use a computer screen without help then their vision is probably ok. People who wonder if they're going a bit deaf can test their hearing by dialing a special BT number - more info on the BT website - which will give them a good indication of how well they can hear. People with diabetic retinopathy should talk to their diabetes nurse about their vision if they're having problems. People with a hearing impairment should ask their local audiology clinic, which they will be visiting regularly for new batteries and retubing what equipment is available.

You can only be in reciept of a service if you are registered - this applys everywhere in England!!!

Sorry, this is not correct.
Hope this helps.

chrisb1976_2

Thanks for your help on this subject. I've contacted the RNIB and they've more or less said the same thing as in if you can see and cope with the working eye then there's nothing I can claim.

Shame really. I'm really really skint, but don't want to stop having my eye(s) tested regularly at the specialist place I normally go to. I think I'll change to the bog standard high street Optician.

Thanks again,

Chris.

lisyloo

Hi Chris,

Can only recommend that you take advanatge of all the free tips, articles and discussion on this site to try and improve your situation.

Good luck