Eyecare Northern Ireland

Are you currently waiting on an ophthalmology hospital appointment? We know that long waiting lists are an all too familiar experience for so many of you living in NI. Our NHS engagement manager, Gillian Clifford, is quoted in an article by Optometry Today about hospital waiting lists for cataract surgery.
John is 79, lives in Greenisland and has been waiting on cataract surgery for more than three years now. Recently, John’s been told by his optometrist that further deterioration in his sight could mean he is no longer able to drive. John worries about how this will affect his life and that of his family. Follow the link to read John’s story and how RNIB has welcomed recent initiatives by the Department of Health to tackle long hospital waiting lists for ophthalmology patients in Northern Ireland.
https://bit.ly/3OEownb

Great news

Sight-loss injection to cut hospital visits A new sight-loss drug will be made available for hundreds of thousands of patients on the NHS, only a week after it was approved by the medicines regulator. Given as an injection in the eye, faricimab improves vision in people who have wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) or diabetic macul

Hope this is of benefit. A great service from RNIB.

Tax advice RNIB is working with her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on a project to support blind and partially sighted people with tax and benefit issues. Our service is free and confidential.We can explain the main tax allowances, benefits and concessions that you could be entitled to.Tax issues we can....

Opticians across Northern Ireland came together on World Health Day to raise funds for the people of Ukraine by donating their eye examination fees.

On the day they raised £5996.

Thank you to every one of them.

On June 6th we are taking the idea national.

www.onedayfor.co.uk

We are pleased to announce that a new project supporting the mental health of young people with sight loss is due to kick off in December 2022. And we need your input to make it the best it can be. More info below:

The Counselling Insight project, a joint initiative between RNIB and Guide Dogs, aims to create a curriculum for training school counsellors and other relevant staff supporting 11 to 18-year-old visually impaired children and young people in a school environment.

If you feel your child or teenager would be able to share their thoughts on what this training must include, we will be hosting a fun, activity-based focus group in the very near future, where we will also be asking the young people about their experiences in school and why this counselling training is vitally needed.

The two year project is funded by Community Fund NI and the Department for Health and will officially launch in December 2022.
If families want to find out more, you can contact the CYPF team: [email protected] For other enquiries about the project, email: [email protected]

Starting this Wednesday 23 February, 10.30am to 12pm - 'Living Well With Sight Loss' course - weekly for 4 weeks(video call course)

Living Well with Sight Loss courses are for adults of all ages, including friends, family members or anyone close to you.
This four week online video course delivered through the Need to Talk Project includes information and advice on a range of topics from understanding welfare rights, staying independent, tips and gadgets for everyday living, assistive technology, emotional support and wellbeing, along with other organisations and services that can support you.

To sign up to a Living Well with Sight Loss course, please complete our online webform below. For further information, please email [email protected] or phone 0303 123 9999.

https://www.rnib.org.uk/sight-loss-advice/living-well-sight-loss-courses-and-phone-groups/book-living-well-sight-loss-course

A real problem which must have a solution.

What rapid Covid tests reveal about the glaring design flaws in healthcare For low-sighted people, Covid-19 tests are virtually impossible to use. But there are design innovations that could change that in the future.

Very important issue.

Only 1 in 4 blind or partially sighted people are in paid employment. We want to change this.

We have now officially launched our new ‘Understanding Sight Loss for Employers’ free eLearning programme.

If you or your organisation would like to avail of this opportunity to ensure you’re providing best practice in recruitment and supporting your employees, you can find out more at: rnib.org.uk/ElearningForEmployers or get in touch with [email protected]

This image shows RNIB's Eye Work Too participant Bessie Cairns, with Translink CEO Chris Conway, Niall Parfitt from the Federation of Small Businesses, The Rt. Hon. Lord Mayor, Councillor Kate Nicholl and RNIB NI's Director Robert Shilliday standing outside City Hall and a pink double decker buss. Bessie and the Lord mayor are holding a large iPad prop that says 'See the Employee, not the Sight Loss'

Translink FSB Northern Ireland Belfast City Centre Management Retail NI Hospitality Ulster Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Department for the Economy NI European Social Fund Ireland Queen's Management School Ulster University

All the more reason to See an Optician.

Blind TV Licence concession made easier to access A ground-breaking agreement between the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), TV Licensing and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) will make it much easier for people with severe sight impairment to access a blind concession TV Licence.

It’s World Mental Health Day!

The day aims to raise awareness, show support to those struggling with any mental health issues and encourage those in need to speak out or seek help.

Take time for yourself and check in with those around you.

Apply For Your Free £100 Card Now As part of the NI Executive’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery programme, if you are resident in Northern Ireland and aged 18 or over, you are eligible to apply to receive a £100 Spend Local prepaid card to spend in local businesses across Northern Ireland.

What better way to spend your £100 than on your eyes. Your local optician will be accepting the High Street Vouchers.

The online registration portal to apply for your High Street £100 Voucher officially opened on Monday and RNIB Northern Ireland have been working closely with the Department for Economy to ensure every part of the process is accessible for blind and partially sighted people.

From the registration process to the card itself, which will have an indentation so people with sight loss can differentiate it from other bank cards in the pockets or wallets.

We can also confirm that there will be a telephone service for those who aren't online or have on access to the internet.

This will open two weeks after online registration from 11 October until 25 October.

This phone number will only be released on the 11 October via the NI Direct website.

Just so you know, a person can also apply for the £100 pre-paid card on your behalf.
A person can only apply on behalf of four others, including themselves.

Once an application has been processed it will take between seven to 10 days before you receive your card.

If anyone has any general queries about the scheme, email [email protected] or phone 08000 468 333.

Online applications can be made via NI Direct here:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/apply-high-street-scheme-spend-local-prepaid-card

Please do feedback to the RNIB Northern Ireland Policy and Campaigns team should you experience any accessibility issues. You can do this via this email, or you can contact the Campaigns Team on 0303 123 9999 or alternatively email: [email protected]
This image is a close up of a prop of the pre-paid Spend Local card

To be safe, especially coming into the winter, give your eyes an MOT.

See an Optician

Is your vision fit for driving? Make sure your eyesight’s roadworthy by taking the 20 metre . It’s an easy, everyday check. For information on the legal eyesight standards for driving visit https://gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules

If you are working from home or on screen more than 2-3 hours a day then make sure you follow this advice.

And. See an Optician.

Your employer has a responsibility for your eye health.

Minimise symptoms of screen fatigue by following the 20-20-20 rule – Look up from your screen every 20 minutes & focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. For more eye care tips for screen users click here Down pointing backhand index
https://visionmatters.org.uk/looking-after-your-eyes/screen-smart

If you look after yourself you will be looking after your eyes.

See an Optician.

Your lifestyle matters when it comes to eye care. Eating well, being active and not smoking can benefit eye health. Find out more here Down pointing backhand indexhttps://healthawareness.co.uk/eye-health/see-the-benefits-of-a-healthy-lifestyle/
Because

For cataract care.

See an Optician.

A cataract is when the lens, a small transparent disc inside your eye, develops cloudy patches. Over time these patches usually become bigger causing blurry, misty vision.

Find out more about eye health here: https://www.zeiss.co.uk/vision-care/better-vision/health-prevention.html

Algae Gene Therapy Partially Restored Completely Blind Man's Vision For the first time, doctors have partially restored the vision of a completely blind French man using light-sensing algae proteins.

In Northern Ireland we are constantly working to improve diagnosis and treatment of macular degeneration.

We will be watching this exciting development from the world leading Moorfields Eye Hospital.

In the meantime, make sure you are having regular eye care, especially as you get a bit older. Never miss an appointment.

Book your appointment today and See an Optician.

Researchers Moorfields Eye Hospital have developed the first-ever fully automated algorithm, which can detect dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using common eye scans.

The development will not only allow faster diagnosis of dry AMD, but will also help researchers develop successful treatments for the condition.

Using optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans the team trained an algorithm to recognise the early signs, precise localisation and progression of dry AMD automatically. They then tested this against a different set of OCT scans from patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital to compare results.

Currently, to diagnose dry AMD, experts must examine patients manually, using a series of time-consuming tests. OCT results must then be examined by clinicians to determine the precise nature of the condition. This can take up to one hour per eye scan andcan be prone to human error and variability.

The in-house algorithm was able to match, and outperform, predictions made by specialist clinicians, all in a fraction of a second.

It is hoped further research will lead to an algorithm that can predict progression to dry AMD in otherwise healthy patients, which could allow future preventive treatment to be administered at the earliest opportunity.

https://www.macularsociety.org/about/media/news/breakthrough-artificial-intelligence-ai-helps-detect-dry-amd/

Look after your eyes. See an Optician

When using a screen for long periods, some people experience symptoms of dry eye.

To help prevent this, take regular screen breaks, stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet including omega 3 from foods such as oily fish.

Find out more about eye health here: https://www.zeiss.co.uk/vision-care/better-vision/health-prevention.html

Keep going

The fight against COVID-19 is not over.

If you have any symptoms – get tested.

The test is free and you can book to use a drive-through site, a walk-through site, or order a home test kit.

Find out all you need to know at www.pha.site/cvtesting

So important to stay on top of your eye care.

See an optician today.

National Eye Health Week 2021 kicks off one month today. Watch this space for top tips on keeping your eyes and vision healthy plus info on how you can get involved as we shine a light on optics 20 – 26 September 2021.

Did you know?

Your local optician is your first port of call for sore red eyes.

Under a scheme called NI Pears your local optician is the first person you should contact if your develop any sudden problem with your eyes.

For pain, discomfort or redness in or around your eyes, or any sudden reduction in vision, call your local optician.

They are the experts in everything eye related.

If in doubt, give them a shout.

When visiting your local optician in Northern Ireland you must wear a facemask and continue to observe social distancing.

The PHA is advising that people must continue to follow public health advice when in healthcare settings due to the increase in case numbers we are currently seeing across Northern Ireland.

If you are attending or visiting a health and social care facility you must:

Continue to wear a face covering;.

Wash hands/use sanitiser on entering and leaving healthcare departments and facilities;

Comply with the social distancing arrangements in place in the setting you are attending or visiting;

Do not visit or attend and health and social care settings if you have symptoms of COVID-19, or you have been in contact with a positive case and are self-isolating, or you are waiting on a COVID-19 test result;

If you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, please book it now or turn up at a drop-in clinic, you don’t need to be invited. Details of nearest clinics www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/get-covid-19-vaccination-northern-ireland

Read more here: https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/continue-follow-public-health-advice-when-healthcare-settings

It's the right thing to do.

Now is the time to get your COVID vaccine, it has never been easier.

To find out where the clinics are taking place visit www.pha.site/mobilevaccine.

Alternatively if you are over 40, you can also book to receive the AstraZeneca vaccination at your local pharmacy through the vaccine booking website covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated.

All regional vaccination centres continue to offer vaccination appointment bookings for first doses. To book online go to covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated. Appointments can also be made using the telephone service 0300 200 7813.

This sunny weather is amazing but Sun Cream and Sunglasses are essential.

See you local optician for advice.

Unprotected exposure to UV can lead to a sunburn-like condition causing your eyes to feel irritated, red, swollen or watery. Long-term over exposure to UV increases your risk of sight-threatening conditions such as cataract & macular degeneration