SeeAbility and the RNIB have launched an information service which aims to transform the quality of eye care for the 1.5 million people in the UK who have a learning disability.
Look Up is a website (www.lookupinfo.org) designed to provide information for eye care professionals, people with a learning disability, their family carers and health and social care staff.
One in three people with a learning disability has a vision problem which often goes undetected, meaning that many are leading isolated lives and suffering from preventable vision loss, said the charities.
The site contains a searchable directory of eye care professionals including optometrists, orthoptists, hospital eye department services, low vision services and rehabilitation services for visually impaired people.
Optometrists who register on the site will be able to download guidelines for giving effective sight tests to people with a learning disability and this information will be regularly updated.
The service also provides advice for patients on how to obtain an appropriate sight test, the implications of different eye conditions for the person concerned and those who work with them.
SeeAbility chief executive David Scott-Ralphs said: 'Our greatest challenge was to assess why people with a learning disability are falling through the healthcare net and are unable to access effective eye healthcare. SeeAbility identified that a lack of information resources was a key factor and together with the RNIB pooled our expertise to develop a unique initiative which enables individuals with a learning disability, their supporters and eye care professionals to access the information they need for effective eye healthcare.'