Dla

McKneff

My OH gets lower rate DLA as he only has sight in one eye and no peripheral vision in the other. In this 'good' eye, his specialist says that he is now suffering from decompensating cornea, his sight is a little more hazy than it was and a corneal transplant is on the cards.
We have both noticed that he is losing balance more too.

Is it worth trying to claim a higher level of DLA or is it a case of waiting to see how this transplant goes.
As he lost his sight in one eye because of so many ops on it and he has 4 ops on this good eye too we are extremel worried it will end up the same way but we are trying to be positive.

harry7075

Will the transplant cure his condition? If the answer is yes and the operation is likely to be soon rather than later I'd hold fire. You'd have to re-claim if you asked them to look again and the way the benefits hornets nest is being stirred I'd personnel leave well lone.

nannytone_2

how many lines can he read on the eye chart?

McKneff

nannytone wrote: »

how many lines can he read on the eye chart?

He's not been tested that way lately, just the specialist looking into his eye.

I gather from some earlier posts of yours, you have major sight problems too.

sunnyone

McKneff wrote: »

My OH gets lower rate DLA as he only has sight in one eye and no peripheral vision in the other. In this 'good' eye, his specialist says that he is now suffering from decompensating cornea, his sight is a little more hazy than it was and a corneal transplant is on the cards.
We have both noticed that he is losing balance more too.

Is it worth trying to claim a higher level of DLA or is it a case of waiting to see how this transplant goes.
As he lost his sight in one eye because of so many ops on it and he has 4 ops on this good eye too we are extremel worried it will end up the same way but we are trying to be positive.

does he have more care needs now?

McKneff

A little more I suppose, I work 3 full days a week and on the others I do see him lose balance more than he ever did. Not actually hurt himself and he doesnt go out without me anymore. He actually lost his balance last week and fell on me on the chair, I suppose I was a softer landing than the floor,
no damage done though.:rotfl:

I'll just hang fire until after his op and seee what happens then. Hopefully he will have a good outcome (fingers crossed)
Im just over retirement age so might just think about giving up and living the high life on my pension :rotfl:

Thanks for all your input guys.

nannytone_2

sight loss is a strange thing. myself, i cope quite easily at home, i know where everything is and i suppose that over time, ive adapted the way i do things.
a sight test is really necessary as a big part of qualifying for HRM is the acuity test.
i can read 3 lines and am not eligable.
i know it sounds harsh but the fact that your partner is blind in one eye means nothing to the powers that be. it is the sight in his better eye that is relevant.

GlasweJen

Unfortunately nannytone is correct. DLA mobility focuses on visual acuity (how many lines on the chart can he get wearing glasses/contact lenses) and visual fields all of which are assessed during a primary eye exam and not at the hospital.

Also for DLA the need has to be there for 3 months and expected to be there for another 6 months so if the operation should fix it then your OH will be refused on time grounds.

Is there any reason why he's falling though? Is is purely related to sight or could there be another problem there?

McKneff

He has had problems since his 20's with his eyes, runs in the family, both our children had cataracts removed in late twenties, grandson at 19 is waiting for cataract ops..........


Like i say, I'll wait for the outcome of the op, specialist seems positive, I think oH is just worried because he has had so many ops and this is what made him blind in his first eye, scarring etc Cataracts, many detached retinas,

No problems with his ears (balance)