If patients have persistent visual problems following stroke, clinicians should be aware of the additional sources of assessment, treatment and support.
Sight impairment registration
Sight impairment registration due to visual field loss is determined by the extent of visual field loss combined with the level of central vision. An ophthalmologist is the only person that can register someone partially sighted, therefore referral to the eye department should be organised if the patient may be eligible and they are keen to be registered. The benefits of registration can be highlighted to patients by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) website, but one of the most important aspects is help with travel if a person can no longer drive.
Driving guidelines
Patients should be provided with information regarding driving suitability. Patients with visual neglect and those with significant visual field loss are not permitted to drive.
If there is any query regarding driving suitability, patients should be advised to contact the DVLA. The DVLA will initiate a specific visual field assessment (called an Esterman visual field test) at a local optometrists and inform the patient if they are still permitted to drive.
Access to social services
If patients are registered as partially sighted, social work departments are notified of this and a home environment assessment is undertaken. This may be a carried out by sensory impairment teams. However, if patients are not keen to be registered, any individual can request a home environment assessment directly from the social work department.
Other sources of help in the community are:
There are other agencies that can offer support after the patient is discharged from hospital. These include:
- Local and national visual impairment organisations
- Local and national stroke support organisations
- Local authority/social work sensory impairment services
- Vocational rehabilitation services
Contacts:
Local societies for the blind in Scotland who work specifically with people affected by sight loss after stroke:
- Guide Dogs Scotland
- Local Authorities in Scotland (COSLA)
- North East Sensory Services, North East Scotland
- RNIB
- Seescape
- Sight Scotland Veterans
- Visibility Scotland
There will be equivalent services in your local area.
Page last reviewed: 29 Jul 2021
