New report on people with learning disabilities and/or autism and their experiences with sight tests

Wessex Voices published a new public and patient involvement report today, Improving Eye Care Across Wessex. The work was commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement – South East in 2019, with completion of the report in 2020.
 
120 adults with learning disabilities and/or autism and 30 carers across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight participated in our survey or interviews. While most people had been for a sight test previously, many had not been to one in the recommended two year period. For those who had excellent experiences at sight tests, good practice meant people had positive, easy experiences. People made suggestions on possible improvements to help facilitate positive experiences as well. Key factors that influenced a person’s experience included:

• Having communication and support throughout the process, including the use of Easy Read resources
• Seeing the same optometrist and staff at each appointment
• Having more information about sight tests and good eye care, including domiciliary tests

 
With the right support, more people can get the eye care they need. We recommend a number of short and long term solutions to help improve access and uptake of sight tests for people with learning disabilities and/or autism, including:

• Increase general awareness of sight tests and good eye care
• Ensure optometrists and optical staff receive relevant awareness training and use reasonable adjustment flags to help meet people’s specific needs
• Ensure Annual Health Checks are effective in addressing eye health
• Develop a learning disability and autism standard for optometrists and optical staff that is quality checked by local user-led groups
• Use the findings of this report to support the call for more dedicated eye care schemes for this group – ideally nationally but in the absence of this, create local eye care schemes in Wessex by adapting the Local Optical Committee Support Unit’s (LOCSU) community pathway for people with learning disabilities

 
The full report and an Easy Read version of the report are both available on the Wessex Voices website.
 
Questions, comments and feedback can be directed to wessexvoices@helpandcare.org.uk.