Continuing the care

A new initiative by Guide Dogs Victoria (GDV), which has been launched in association with The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital, is set to improve the quality of life for many patients with poor eyesight.

The Centre for Vision Independence, which opened in June, is a free, independent advisory service specifically for vision impaired Hospital patients to help them better manage their vision loss.

Located at 100 Victoria Parade, only 50m from the Eye & Ear, the Centre offers impartial advice on many issues, such as pensions and concessions, advocacy and access, community support services, counselling services, employment support and mobility aids.

The Centre also has a display room containing a range of low vision tools, including magnifiers, adaptive technology and talking books.

Eye & Ear patients are referred to the Centre by Hospital ophthalmologists, orthoptists and nurses.

Hospital CEO Graeme Houghton and GDV CEO Graeme White at the Centre's launch

Hospital CEO Graeme Houghton said the Eye & Ear was delighted to be working with its partner organisation, Guide Dogs Victoria, on this project. “Research conducted at the Eye & Ear showed that many Hospital patients with low vision were not aware of the services that were available to them in the community and that can negatively impact on their emotional wellbeing,” Mr Houghton said. “The same research also indicated that for those people who did access low vision services their quality of life was significantly improved.”

Mr Houghton said the Centre for Vision Independence was an advancement in the continuum of care offered to Hospital patients with vision impairment.

GDV CEO Dr Graeme White said the Centre’s experienced professionals would refer patients on to all appropriate Victorian providers of low vision services and follow up with patients to ensure they received the assistance they required.

The Centre is open from 11am to 5pm, Monday - Friday.

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