Eye care and eye health patient resources Many of our patients look for information on their eyesight, vision correction and ocular health on the internet. Used properly, this information can support your advice and lead to a better understanding of the importance of eye care and eye health. Recommending reliable sources of information is beneficial to your practice since it shows that you care about your patients well being and appreciate their desire to learn more about their eyes. Here is a selection of useful organisations, charities and support groups to help ensure that patients receive accurate and up to date information, plus links for careers in optometry and optics. General information Organisation Website Description The Eyecare Trust http://www.eyecaretrust.org.uk/ Raises awareness of all aspects of ocular health, the importance of regular eye care and good eyewear All About Vision http://www.allaboutvision.com/ Consumer guide to eyes, eye care and vision correction (US) College of Optometrists http://www.lookafteryoureyes.org/ Public information on eye care and eye conditions http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/eyehealth/pages/lookingafteryoureyes.aspx NHS health advice website Looking after your eyes The Healthy Sight Institute http://www.healthysightinstitute.org/ Education and resources on healthy sight (Transitions Optical) Royal College of Ophthalmologists http://www.rcophth.ac.uk/about/public/public-health Ocular public health information and common eye conditions Royal National Institute of Blind People http://www.rnib.org.uk/eyehealth/pages/eye_health.aspx Information on eye health and most eye conditions, plus helpline and regional network Moorfields Eye Hospital http://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/publicationsandresources/informationforpatients Downloadable leaflets on eye conditions and treatments British Contact Lens Association http://www.bcla.org.uk/en/consumers/index.cfm Consumer information on contact lenses
Lasik Eyes http://www.lasik-eyes.co.uk/ Guide to laser surgery and laser clinics in the UK Department of Health http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/healthcare/entitlementsandcharges/nhscharges/dh_1 08424 NHS sight test and optical voucher entitlements Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring/learnerandnewdrivers/learningtodriveor Ride/DG_4022529 Drivers eyesight requirements Information and support on specific eye conditions AMD Alliance International British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society http://www.amdalliance.org/en/ http://www.brps.org.uk/index.php?tln=aboutrp Global alliance of age-related macular degeneration organisations Dedicated to finding a treatment or cure for retinitis pigmentosa Diabetes UK http://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/ Charity for people with diabetes, including diabetic eye disease Eye Cancer Network http://www.eyecancer.com/ Online community for eye cancer patients International Glaucoma Association http://www.glaucomaassociation.com/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=1560&=fromcfc&tt=article&lang=en&site_i d=176 Information service for people with or at risk of glaucoma Keratoconus Group www.keratoconus-group.org.uk Support group for people with keratoconus Macular Disease Society http://www.maculardisease.org/ Dedicated to helping people with macular degeneration British Sjögren s Syndrome Association http://www.bssa.uk.net/ Information and support for people with Sjögren s syndrome Nystagmus Network http://www.nystagmusnet.org/ Self-help group for nystagmus sufferers Uveitis Information http://www.uveitis.net/uig/index.php Patient information on uveitis Group Royal National Institute of Blind People http://www.rnib.org.uk/eyehealth/eyeconditions/pages/rare_eye_conditions.aspx Support groups for rare conditions from albinism to toxoplasmosis
Information and support on eye-related health and lifestyle issues Giving up smoking Smoking Quitline Smoking Department of Health: Tobacco Alcohol Department of Health: Alcohol misuse Drug misuse Department of Health; Drug misuse British Nutrition Foundation Exercise British Heart Foundation Department of Health: Obesity National Obesity Forum Stroke Association Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland http://smokefree.nhs.uk/ http://www.quit.org.uk/ http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/smoking-(quitting)/pages/introduction.aspx http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publichealth/healthimprovement/tobacco/index.htm http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/alcohol/pages/alcoholhome.aspx http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publichealth/healthimprovement/alcoholmisuse/dh_085385 http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/drug-misuse/pages/introduction.aspx http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publichealth/healthimprovement/drugmisuse/index.htm http://www.nutrition.org.uk/ http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/exercise/pages/introduction.aspx http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active.aspx http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publichealth/healthimprovement/obesity/dh_6585 http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publichealth/obesity/index.htm http://www.stroke.org.uk/information/index.html http://www.chss.org.uk/
Charities and support groups for blind and partially sighted people Action for Blind People http://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/ Part of RNIB covering all aspects of support, benefits Deafblind UK http://www.deafblind.org.uk/ Support for deafblind people Guide Dogs http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/ Mobility advice and services National Blind Children's http://www.nbcs.org.uk/ Educational support Society Royal National Institute of Blind People http://www.rnib.org.uk/pages/home.aspx Comprehensive information, support and advice service Sense http://www.sense.org.uk/ Supports and campaigns for deafblind people The Partially Sighted Society http://www.partsight.org.uk/ Helps people with visual impairment. Publishes a range of information sheets LOOK UK http://www.look-uk.org/ Identifies sight-related support groups International development charities in eye care and eye health Optometry Giving Sight http://www.givingsight.org/ Funds projects in developing communities Orbis http://www.orbis.org/ Blindness prevention and treatment in developing countries Sight Savers International http://www.sightsavers.org/default.html Combats blindness in developing countries Vision 2020 http://www.vision2020.org/main.cfm Global initiative on prevention of blindness Vision Aid Overseas http://www.vao.org.uk/ Access to eye care services in developing countries
Eye research organisations Fight for Sight http://www.fightforsight.org.uk/ Funds research into prevention and treatment of blindness UCL Institute of Ophthalmology http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo/aboutus.php Cutting-edge research into new treatments for eye disease Ophthalmic Research Network http://www.moorfieldsresearch.org.uk/orntemp/index.html Web-based research archive on eye diseases (currently updating) Institute of Optometry http://www.ioo.org.uk/dyslexia.htm Research and clinics include specific learning difficulties Careers in optometry, dispensing optics and related fields College of Optometrists http://www.college-optometrists.org/en/qualifying-as-an-optometrist/index.cfm How to qualify and register as an optometrist in the UK Association of British Dispensing Opticians http://www.abdo.org.uk/read.php?page=2&p=1 Types of training for dispensing optics ABDO College http://www.abdocollege.org.uk/ Dispensing optics Anglia Ruskin University http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/faculties/fst/departments/vision_hearing.html Optometry, dispensing, optical management, assistants Aston University http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/undergraduate/subject-areas/optometry1/ Optometry University of Bradford http://www.brad.ac.uk/optometry/ Optometry Bradford College http://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/course_view?id=w6a8d Ophthalmic dispensing and management, optical retailing Cardiff University http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/optom/ Optometry City & Islington College http://www.candi.ac.uk/courses/employers/optics.aspx Ophthalmic dispensing, retailing and manufacturing City University http://www.city.ac.uk/optometry/ Optometry Glasgow Caledonian University http://www.gcu.ac.uk/sls/departments/deptofvisionsciences/ Optometry and ophthalmic dispensing University of Manchester http://www.ls.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/optometry/index.aspx Optometry University of Ulster http://prospectus.ulster.ac.uk/course/?id=7091 Optometry Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers http://www.spectaclemakers.com/awardsandtraining/index.htm Optical technicians, optical practice support staff
Website information disclaimer This database includes a list of web resources for eye care practitioners they can usefully direct patients to for additional information and support relevant to the individual patients needs or eye condition. This resource should supplement practitioner advice rather than replace it. THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE will not accept liability for the information provided on the websites listed. Visitors are solely responsible for interactions with that website. THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE has tried to ensure that the contents of these pages are accurate and the information contained in this database was correct at the time of writing. Please notify THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE TVCI_GB@its.jnj.com if you find any inaccuracies or changes to the URL provided. Last updated October 2010