Charity tackles depression rates among people with sight loss

Almost half of people attending NHS low vision clinics for help with sight loss suffer from symptoms of clinical depression, a new study has shown.

According to the Depression in Visual Impairment Trial (DEPVIT), 43% of people who lose their sight go on to battle depression.

Research commissioner Guide Dogs said NHS low vision services focused only on the physical need – with psychological screening and therapy not yet an integral part of rehabilitation. Three-quarters of those with depressive symptoms were not receiving any treatment for their depression. Currently two low vision services in Britain screened patients for depression, researchers noted.