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A special conference to update practitioners on the skills low vision patients require to continue to drive will be held in November.

Organised by Birmingham Focus on Blindness, which helps with advice and rehabilitation services to partially sighted and blind people in the Midlands, the one-day conference has attracted high-profile speakers.

In addition, the event will stage a 'Blind driving challenge and exhibition' following lunch.

A key-note address by a representative of the DVLA will start the event, followed by Aston University's Dr Robert Cubbidge who will speak on 'Driving and visual fields'.

The pre-lunch sessions include 'Surgery for age-related macular degeneration' by consultant ophthalmologist Robert Scott, and dispensing optician Jennifer Brower on 'Effective low vision dispensing'.

Following the exhibition there are two more lectures - 'Driving: the psychological implications' by Dr Fiona Fylan, a chartered health psychologist, and Aston University's Dr Colin Fowler will borrow the Jimi Hendrix lyric 'The traffic lights, they turn blue tomorrow?' to discuss whether delegates' driving spectacles are legal.

Five CET points are available, and tickets are £100.

The Low Vision 'Can I still drive? Conference will be held on Sunday November 27 at The Beeches Conference Centre, Bournville.
More details from low vision dispensing optician Lorna O'Donnell via email: lorna@birminghamfocus.org.uk

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