Look Up is on Sight Saving Target

Look Up, the eye healthcare information service for people with a learning disability, which was launched a year ago by SeeAbility in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB,) has already significantly improved all aspects of eye healthcare. The website has been instrumental in increasing the uptake of eye tests by people with a learning disability as well as offering constantly updated information for eye care professionals. 

A staggering one in three people with a learning disability has a sight problem.  This is often undetected and untreated, as many individuals cannot communicate their failing sight and as a result many live isolated lives and suffer preventable sight loss.  SeeAbility believes that no one is too disabled to have his or her eyes tested. This was the starting point for the development of Look Up but increasing awareness about the importance of regular eye tests was only a part of the story.

Look Up has played a key role in creating a complete service for optometrists and orthoptists to help them provide first class eye care including guidelines on how to give a sight test to people with a learning disability.

In addition to this specialist information, Look Up has expanded to include many new features including; a database for optical professionals to register their practice details if they have an interest in testing the sight of people with a learning disability; an email forum for optometrists, other care staff, carers and service users  to exchange information about all issues relating to  people with a learning disability, including national and international best practice guidelines; accessible downloadable pre and post eye test forms which help optometrists evaluate how best to test the sight of the individual as well as assessing the success of the eye test.

Look Up will be the subject of a presentation at Vision 2008, Conference taking place in Montreal, Canada in early July which brings together everyone working in low vision and vision impairment, around the world

"We are delighted that so many people have been able to benefit from Look Up," explains Deborah Hamlin, Director of Information & Advisory Service, "It is essential to co-ordinate with eye care professionals to enable people with a learning disability to get appropriate eye healthcare.  The response has been terrific and we believe the new additions to the website will enable every optometrist to get the information they need to adequately test the sight of a person with a learning disability and provide an opportunity for many other staff to develop their skills in working with individuals with a learning disability."

For further information visit www.lookupinfo.org or call 0800 121 8900