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We provide people affected by sight loss, and those supporting them, with specialist information that will enable people to make informed decisions. This expert guidance can be given over the telephone, using email or in a face to face meeting.
We’re here to provide people with the information to help them to overcome everyday challenges and to encourage and support people to take the first steps to independence. Our services are also available for people who have been diagnosed with sight loss for a long time, as our experience tells us that there are still barriers to accessing some information and services.
Our Advice and Information staff and trained volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable professionals however, please be aware that they’re not medically qualified so cannot give medical advice. All calls are confidential.
This downloadable document provide information about some of the local and national services available to people with sight loss. This is not an exhaustive list. The staff and volunteers from Sight Concern Worcestershire have access to information about a far wider range of services and are happy to provide support to assist people to access these services or find out more about them.
We’re here to provide people with the information to help them to overcome everyday challenges and to encourage and support people to take the first steps to independence. Our services are also available for people who have been diagnosed with sight loss for a long time, as our experience tells us that there are still barriers to accessing some information and services.
Our Advice and Information staff and trained volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable professionals however, please be aware that they’re not medically qualified so cannot give medical advice. All calls are confidential.
Macular Degeneration can affect people of all ages, but it is the leading cause of sight loss in people over 60. Macular Degeneration causes problems with the central vision, which can become distorted or blurry. This means that someone with this condition might look at you sideways and may be unable to see fine detail. Over time, it can lead to a completely blank patch in the central vision although people tend to retain some peripheral (side) vision.
The development of this condition is significantly affected by diet and smoking.
Glaucoma is a hereditary condition which can cause blindness if it is not managed with daily drops. It causes optic nerve damage due to changes in the pressure in the eye and can lead to loss of peripheral (side) vision which means that people with this condition may not see things or people that are approaching from the side.
People who are developing glaucoma are often unaware that there is anything wrong but it can be detected by special tests that are used every time we have an eye examination at the opticians. People over 40 who have a close family member with glaucoma are entitled to a free eye test on an annual basis to ensure that any glaucoma is identified as quickly as possible.
Diabetes affects all the major organs of the body including the eyes. Diabetic Retinopathy causes the central vision to become patchy and it can be difficult to read and drive. 40% of people with Type 1 Diabetes and 20% of those with Type 2 Diabetes will develop some type of Diabetic Retinopathy. It is the biggest cause of sight loss in the under 60s in the UK. People who maintain a healthy weight, control their blood sugar and stop smoking will reduce their chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes and therefore reduce the likelihood of experiencing sight loss as well.
Cataracts are a very common eye condition, mostly caused by the ageing process of the lens inside our eyes. As we get older, the lens inside our eye gradually changes and becomes less transparent. A lens that has turned misty may have a cataract. Over time a cataract may get worse, gradually making objects appear cloudy or misty. Cataracts develop slowly and can lead to blurred vision, change in colour vision and sensitivity to glare. The treatment for cataracts is a simple operation, normally under local anaesthetic and performed as a day-case procedure. During the operation the natural cloudy lens is removed and a plastic one inserted. Maintaining a healthy diet, wearing sunglasses and stopping smoking can reduce some people’s chances of developing cataracts.
Stroke happens when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted, cutting off oxygen supply and leading to brain cell death or damage. In some cases, blood vessels spontaneously burst causing a hemorrhage (bleeding). Depending on the part of the brain affected, stroke can cause permanent or temporary injury to movement, speech, thinking, communication and vision
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is the name given to a group of genetically inherited eye conditions that affect the retina at the back of the eye. RP causes permanent changes to eye sight, but how much vision is affected and how quickly the changes take place varies enormously from person to person.
For people with RP, faulty genes cause the cells in the retina to stop working and eventually die. This affects the eye’s ability to process light, so that people with RP are often sensitive to light and may find bright light, changes in light levels and seeing in dull conditions such as outside at night or in dimply lit rooms difficult, this is often called night blindness. Many people with RP also loose peripheral vision which means seeing things straight ahead is easier but seeing things to the side is more difficult.
Some people with sight loss will experience visual hallucinations; these are known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome.
Charles Bonnet was Swiss philosopher who first described this condition in 1760 when he noticed that his grandfather, who was almost blind, saw patterns, figures, birds and buildings which were not there. Although the condition was described almost 250 years ago, it is still largely unknown by ordinary doctors and nurses: many GP’s and Ophthalmologists are not aware of the syndrome.This is partly because of a lack of knowledge about the syndrome and partly because people experiencing it don’t talk about their problems from fear of being thought of as mentally ill.
Charles Bonnet syndrome affects people with serious sight loss and usually only people who have lost their sight later in life but can affect people of any age, usually appearing after a period of worsening sight. If you experience this, you may see elaborate forms such as geometrical grids and lattices or animals, people in old fashioned dress, gargoyles or gardens. They can last for a few minutes or a few hours. They are very real to the individual.
Charles Bonnet Syndrome can be distressing, but the hallucinations are usually not permanent. Many people experience hallucinations for a year to eighteen months before they become a lot less frequent or stop. Esme’s Umbrella is a Campaign Group working towards a greater awareness of Charles Bonnet Syndrome. See their website for more information.
The Bradbury Centre
2 Sansome Walk
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR1 1LH
Registered Charity: 1136716. Company: 07258623.
