West Wales woman celebrates vital eye clinic support in Aberystwyth

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Cymru is marking the 30 year anniversary of its vital Eye Care Liaison Officers

When patients at North Road Clinic in Aberystwyth are diagnosed with sight loss, they can be sure of essential support from the clinic’s Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO), Janet Nicholls, who is employed by RNIB Cymru in partnership with NHS Wales.

Janet, 65, who has been an ECLO at North Road Clinic for eight years, offers patients a range of emotional and practical support, such as registering for a Certificate of Visual Impairment and accessing other services to support with benefit applications, using technology and getting around.

Wales was the first UK nation to have an ECLO in every eye clinic – provided by RNIB, Sight Life and Sight Cymru, ensuring that every eye care patient in Wales has access to essential information and advice at their eye clinic.

Eight out of ten patients surveyed that had used the service agreed they had a better understanding of their condition following their ECLO appointment, and agreed they were more positive about the future.

Sonia Kuznetsov, 65, who is registered Sight Impaired (SI), was referred to Janet in 2022 when her sight deteriorated rapidly following the development of cataracts in addition to pre-existing eye problems.

“I’d had support from the ECLO service in the past, when my needs were met through basic information and the NHS Low Vision service,” she said. “Then when things got worse, I was able to see Janet on the same day as my eye clinic appointment. It was so quick. She introduced me to helpful resources, like the RNIB Living Well With Sight Loss course and support available through the Local Authority Social Services.

“My cataracts were considered a complex case. I had two different opinions from doctors as to whether surgery would do more harm than good, and even saw a consultant in Barcelona for a third opinion. The uncertainty over the risks was quite traumatising. Janet supported me so much through this process. I could trust her to take the important questions I had about my surgery to the right people at the clinic and come back to me with the answers I needed. Because of this, I felt more informed and in control.

“ECLOs are such a valuable bridge between clinicians, patients and support services. People with sight issues have such varied problems, so it’s really important to have someone on hand with a wide range of resources and understanding of conditions. If ECLOs didn’t exist, I’m not sure where people would go for this support.”

Janet Nicholls said:

“Seeing an ECLO can help people to open up about their fears around sight loss, maintain their independence, and build a life that works for them. I’ve had patients in tears in my office from pure relief at being able to release their worries and talk to someone. It’s very rewarding when you can help somebody, even in a small way. When patients discover support services or find out that they will still be able to read with a magnifier or Talking Books, it takes the experience of sight loss from being isolating to manageable.

“ECLOs are so important to patient wellbeing. We can talk to people on a non-clinical level so they understand more about their condition, we are easy to get hold of and we don’t have time constraints like clinicians so we can point people in the direction of the help they need. We are there to support patients throughout their sight loss, even years down the line.”

RNIB Cymru Director Ansley Workman said:
“Receiving a sight loss diagnosis can be overwhelming. It is vital that everyone going through this experience has someone they can talk to. ECLOs like Janet go above and beyond to offer information, advice and emotional support to every patient that walks through the door.

“We are proud to celebrate RNIB’s dedicated ECLOs in Wales, who work tirelessly to ensure that patients get the support they need, when they need it, and do not have to go through sight loss alone.”

Dr Rhianon Reynolds, NHS Wales Executive National Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology and Llywydd of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in Wales, said:
“ECLOs in Welsh eye clinics support patients when they need it most. Support throughout the sight loss journey is vital to patient’s continued wellbeing and ability to live independent lives. Our amazing ECLOs help thousands of people every year. They are an essential part of the eyecare team and should be a core, funded role to provide support to patients in every part of Wales.”

RNIB Cymru has recently developed its Eye Care Support Pathway which aims to support patients at every stage of their sight loss journey, from visiting an optician through to living in the modern world with sight loss. ECLOs will play an increasingly vital role in receiving referrals at key stages of the patient’s journey.

For more information about ECLOs, call RNIB’s Helpline on 0303 123 9999, or visit RNIB’s website at https://www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/navigating-sight-loss/eye-care-services-and-roles/eye-care-liaison-officers-eclos/.