Learning disabilities on agenda

People with learning disabilities are 10 times more likely to have serious sight problems, an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eye Health & Visual Impairment and Learning Disability has heard.

A joint meeting with sight loss charities SeeAbility and Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) last week highlighted eye health in people with learning disabilities as a key public health issue.

Speakers at the meeting emphasised that those with a learning disability should have a sight test at least every two years.

David Scott-Ralphs, chief executive of SeeAbility, said: 'We know that people with learning disabilities are 10 times more likely to have sight problems than other people in the population and yet least likely to get the right help and support with their eye care.