The Department of Health has asked social services departments (SSDs) across the country to provide copies of a Low Vision Leaflet (LVL) to opticians/optometrists in their areas. The Department of Health's guidance says:
"The LVL is a self-referral leaflet, which a person who encounters problems resulting from sight loss can send to SSDs if they wish to be contacted for help. Optometrists / opticians or practice staff should encourage appropriate patients to take and complete an LVL. Such clients might include those whose difficulties cannot be optically corrected and who are experiencing problems with things like reading, crossing the road or cooking".
Small supplies of LVLs have been distributed to opticians/optometrists for their use.
If a patient needs help to complete and return the leaflet, they can ask someone to do this for them or they can ring us direct. We can also make braille and tape versions of the leaflet available on request.
The completed leaflets should be sent to Customer Services at the address on the leaflet. Customer Services will log the referral and pass it on to a Rehabilitation Officer for Visual Impairment who will arrange an appointment with the individual to carry out an assessment of their needs
There are five different leaflets for use by opticians depending on where in Cumbria the person with a vision impairment lives. These can be downloaded using the links below. There is also a link to the Department of Health's guidance note for local council social care services and optometrists/opticians which gives more information on how the LVL should be used.