SeeAbility have launched a new partnership on World Sight Day 2017 (12 October), working with Derby-based Ophthalmic wholesaler Mid-Optic to make eye care accessible for people who have learning disabilities or are autistic.

Adults and children with learning disabilities are more likely to have serious sight problems than other people and yet are much less likely to get the eye care they need.

Working closely with Mid-Optic, SeeAbility hopes to change this by increasing awareness of the problem within the optical sector and providing the specialist information and support they need to make their practice more accessible.

We are calling on eye care professionals across the UK to do one thing to improve the situation: download our new practical guide and make the changes needed to support people who have learning disabilities or are autistic through an eye test.

The facts speak for themselves

• Adults with learning disabilities are 10 times more likely to have serious sight problems than others, yet less than half have not had an eye test in the last two years
• Children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely to have serious sight problem than other children but fewer than 7% have accessed a community optician for a routine eye test

Managing Director of Mid-Optic, Tony Walker, says:

I was shocked when I first heard about the scale of the issue and I knew that we just had to offer our help as a company and all my all staff agreed. This situation has to be addressed nationally and with our links to thousands of eye care professionals across the country we are in an ideal position to reach out to the people who can make a difference.

Chief Executive Officer at SeeAbility, Lisa Hopkins, says:

Eye care professionals know better than anyone the risks a lack of eye care poses to people’s sight and to their health. By taking action to make your practice more accessible this World Sight Day, you can help us to reduce avoidable sight loss and make sure people who have learning disabilities or are autistic can live fuller lives.

We’re delighted to be working with Mid-Optic in this way. It’s a new partnership that has the potential to benefit the 1.5 million people with disabilities in the UK, as well as the family, friends, educators and practitioners who support them.