New Research Shows That People With Learning Disabilities Are Ten Times More Likely to Have Sight Problems

 

New research commissioned by leading sight loss organisations SeeAbility and RNIB, shows that the estimated 1 million adults in the UK with learning disabilities are 10 times more likely than the rest of the population to be blind or partially sighted. People with severe or profound learning disabilities are the most likely to have serious sight problems. In addition, six out of 10 people with learning disabilities need to wear glasses (1).

People with learning disabilities may not be able to tell others that their sight is affected, though there may be significant impact on their quality of life.  Sometimes behavioural problems can be attributed by carers and health professionals to their learning disability - when undiagnosed sight loss might in fact be the cause. Changes in behaviour may be the only way to communicate that they have problems and often this behaviour is misinterpreted by families and supporters.

To mark National Eye Health Week (13-19 June 2011), SeeAbility and RNIB are calling for everyone with a learning disability to have a sight test every two years or more frequently if advised by an Optometrist.

Case Study: "Caroline", 37
Caroline is a 37 year old woman with a learning disability who began falling up to seven times a week. She clung onto walls when she was attempting to move independently and required the support of a care worker to move around her home.  Caroline's head tilted to the right-hand side, for which she needed physiotherapy and had become increasingly reliant on care support staff to simply move short distances which was frustrating to her as she had always been independent. She had become increasingly isolated from her friends.  Care staff were concerned that there may be a problem with Caroline's vision and referred her for a functional vision assessment and eye test.

Caroline was found to have severe difficulties in focusing her eyes, was sensitive to glare, and was unable to judge depths and distances - processing information through sound and touch alone. As a result of the sight test and assessment, major changes were made to Caroline's home to make it more highly contrasted and well lit. Caroline is now able to move unaided and her posture has improved, meaning that she no longer needs physiotherapy. Caroline's mobility has improved so much that she is now able to visit her friends without support, giving her greater independence, choice and control.

Regular sight tests can help detect eye conditions and early treatment can often prevent permanent sight loss.   But tests also provide indications of general health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure which can also lead to sight problems.  

Both SeeAbility and RNIB would like to see greater understanding of the importance of sight tests and for professionals and supporters  not to assume that someone with a learning disability can see perfectly well. Both organisations have a developed a range of resources including training for optometrists on adapting the eye examination to meet the needs of people with a learning disability.

Scott Watkin, previously Co-National Director for Learning Disabilities at the DoH, who himself has a learning disability says, “I am a great example of how having the right eye health care can change your life. Sight tests detected major problems with my vision and through eye surgery I have regained vision which has opened up all sorts of possibilities for me. If you get the chance to improve your sight – go for it. It changed my life: it’ll change your life too”.

Gordon Ilett, a qualified optometrist who works in private practice and as a sessional hospital optometrist developed a special interest in people with learning disabilities in 1990s leading to working with the Special Olympics. He said, “No-one is too disabled to have a sight test, it just needs to be appropriate for their needs.  There are ample resources available, many of them free, to enable more optometrists to work with this group of clients and I encourage you to do this”.

For more media information please contact:
Susan Duncan, RNIB on 020 7 391 3291 or susan.duncan@rnib.org.uk . Out of hours: 07968 482812
Jayne McGann, SeeAbility on 01372 755020, janye.mcgann@seeability.org, 07827 342298  


References
1. Leading vision charities RNIB and SeeAbility jointly commissioned professor Eric Emerson and Dr Janet Robertson of the Centre for Disability Research (CeDR) at Lancaster University to estimate the number of people with a learning disability and visual impairment in the UK using prevalence rates from a major study in the Netherlands.  The research findings have been endorsed by Mencap, Vision 2020 and the Department of Health.

Emerson E and Robertson J (2011) Estimated prevalence of visual impairment among people with learning disabilities in the UK. Improving Health and Lives: Learning Disabilities Observatory report for RNIB and SeeAbility.

Van Splunder J, Stilma J S, Bernsen R M D and Evenhuis H M (2004) 'Prevalence of ocular diagnoses found on screening 1539 adults with intellectual disabilities' Ophthalmology, 111:1457-63

Van Splunder J, Stilma J S, Bernsen R M D and Evenhuis H M (2006) 'Prevalence of visual impairments in adults with intellectual disabilities in the Netherlands: Cross-sectional study'. Eye 20: 1004-1010.