Low Vision Clinic

When you attend your appointment at the Low Vision Service facilitated by Vision Support Barrow and District, you will receive a comprehensive low vision assessment. The process is always designed to give you the right support, advice, and tools to make daily life easier.

Your appointment will begin with a detailed discussion about your individual circumstances. This is an important step in understanding how your vision impacts your daily life. We will talk about:

• The specific activities or tasks you are finding difficult.

• The support you currently have at home, work, or in your community.

• Your general health and any existing eye conditions.

This conversation helps us plan the most effective ways to support you and tailor the assessment to your needs.

A local optician will carry out an assessments to understand how well you can see in different situations:

• Distance vision – checking how clearly you can see things further away, such as signs or television screens.
• Near vision (reading) – testing how well you can read text or see details up close, for example when looking at books, letters, or labels.

A key part of the assessment is to measure what level of magnification works best for you, both for distance and near tasks. This helps us to identify whether a magnifying aid could improve your vision for specific activities.

You will then be shown a range of magnifying devices to try. These may include handheld magnifiers, stand magnifiers, or electronic magnifiers. Together, we will explore which option suits you best.
Sometimes magnifiers may not provide the right solution. In these cases, we will discuss alternative options, such as using technology or exploring different types of support.

If you are prescribed a magnifying device, we won’t just give it to you — we will also spend time teaching you how to use it properly. This ensures you feel confident and comfortable using the device in your daily life.

Your appointment is not just about magnifiers. It is also an opportunity to explore other services and support that could make a positive difference. This might include:

• Referral to other healthcare or rehabilitation professionals.

• Advice on lighting, contrast, and practical techniques to make tasks easier.

• Information about local or national support organisations for people with sight loss.

The aim of the Low Vision Service is to provide you with practical solutions, tailored support, and confidence in managing everyday life with reduced vision. Every appointment is designed around your needs, helping you to make the most of the vision you have.