Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø

• What is vision impairment? Which conditions does it encompass?
  People with vision impairment have reduced eyesight, even when wearing the best possible glasses or contact lenses. The term ‘vision impairment' encompasses people with a very wide range of vision, from those who are not seeing even the brightest of lights, through to people who can see about half way down a conventional sight chart: a level of vision just a little too poor to pass the number plate test for driving.
  Ìý
• What areÌýthe most common causes of vision impairment?Ìý
  In low income countries one cause isÌýlack of access to the correct spectacles or to cataract surgery, but in London the most common causes of vision impairment we see are age-related macular disease,Ìýinherited eye diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease,Ìýand glaucoma.
  Ìý
• What are the specific challenges that vision impairment presents in children and young people?Ìý
  Adolescence and young adulthood is a challenging time of life for many people. Many of the eye conditions which we are interested in, develop in people’s teenage years, so people need to transition from having typical vision to having vision impairment at the same time as they are transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Technology and the support of vision impairment teachers can help with accessing education, but things like travelling independently, socialising and going on dates can be more challenging for young people with reduced vision. The needs of young people are very different to those of older adults with vision impairment, who make up the majority of people with vision impairment in the UK.Ìý
  Ìý
• How can visually impaired children and young people’s mental health be improved?
  This is what we are trying to find out in our research. We know that early access to services such as low vision clinics, counselling and peer support can be very helpful to maximise well-being and mental health in young people with vision impairment. At Moorfields Eye Hospital, we are lucky to have access to these specialist services. Charities like Stargardt’s Connected, VICTA and the Macular Society,Ìýprovide social and sporting activities for young people with vision impairment, which we know is very helpful.Ìý
  
  Some of our early results show that adults with inherited macular disease who have received this support have similar levels of well-being to the wider population, which is very encouraging. We want to ensure that every young person with vision impairment receives an integrated package of interventions to ensure that they can experience well-being as quickly and smoothly as is possible.

Michael Crossland is an optometrist and a senior research fellow at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Institute of Ophthalmology. Michael works in low vision clinics with people of all ages who have vision impairment. In his clinical work he measures various aspects of visual function, prescribes specialist spectacles and optical magnifiers, and ensures that people have the appropriate support from local and national services. His major research interest is in the impact of vision impairment on well-being and mental health.ÌýHis research is funded by the Macular Society and Moorfields Eye Charity.

Rachael Canavan is a PhD student, funded by Moorfields Eye Charity, working on a project looking at the best type of support which can be given to maximise the mental health and well-being of young people with vision impairment. Her research will answer questions like what type of support should be offered; where should it be performed (online, in hospital, in schools, at home) and when in the disease process it should be provided.

Lottie Wood has recently graduated with a MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø and is now working as a Research Assistant in the Child Vision Lab on the STOMP (Supporting Teenagers to Overcome Macular Problems) project. Lottie’s role is in the recruitment of young people to the study, and in the assessment of their mental health and well-being.

Links

• Child Vision Lab