Support Agencies
Many sufferers of vitreous opacities report a lack of empathy and good advice from primary carers at the time of diagnosis. Eye Clinic nursing staff do not have time to spend with each individual patient however much they would like to and we often hear of Consultants saying “you’ll learn to live with it” or “no more can be done” (if only they would add ‘medically’ to the statement as there is lots more practical help available after the patient has left the hospital).
Below is some information about support available within the UK. We will endeavor to provide information on international agencies as well and if you can help with this, please let us know. If you are outside the UK, we would recommend that you contact your national charity for the blind or health authority who should be able to refer you to services within your country.
Support within the UK
Some hospitals appoint ECLOs (Eye Clinic Liaison Officers) who will sit down with the patient, take time to explain the situation and offer advice and information. Or there may be a local society volunteer ‘help desk’ within the clinic. Unfortunately services are fragmented.
Other services that will try to help you are listed below.
- Action for Blind People.
- Action for Blind People is one of the largest charities in the UK providing confidential support for blind and partially sighted people in all aspects of their lives.
- They offer a free counselling service to adults with any visual impairment as well as their family or carers, within the North West of England. Tel: 0151 298 3235.
- Listening Eye
- Freephone: 0800 783 1979 (Lines are open from 6pm to 10pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)
- RNIB (The Royal National Institute for the Blind)
- Helpline: +44 303 123 9999
- Sightline Vision North West
- Freephone: 0800 587 2252. (Lines are open from 6pm to 10pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday)
- VINCE (Visually Impaired Network for Counselling and Emotional Support)
- Visionary
- Visionary is network of around 120 independent local societies for the blind from around the UK and at the last count around 56 offer a counselling or emotional support service. This could range from a counselling service with trained and qualified counsellors to a more informal service – a ‘listening ear’ with the opportunity to chat about general vision problems and the effects on daily life.
