Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37076690›Full record

ArticleEye (London, England)2023

Confusion around Certification of Vision Impairment (CVI) and registration processes-are patients falling through the cracks?

Shahina Pardhan, Robin Driscoll, Hilary Ingleton, John Slade, Michael Bowen, Rupal Lovell-Patel, Sarah Farrell, Rupert Bourne, Simon Mahoney, Sanjiv Ahluwalia and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Eye (London, England), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. The barriers and facilitators to primary care optometrists supporting patients with low vision in England.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. The unmet need for certification of vision impairment for people accessing a national primary care-based low vision rehabilitation service.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2025
    Observational
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Shahina PardhanVision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. shahina.pardhan@aru.ac.uk.
Robin DriscollVision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7978-3922
Hilary IngletonRoyal National Institute of Blind People, London, UK.
John SladeRoyal National Institute of Blind People, London, UK.
Michael BowenCollege of Optometrists, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4818-9450
Rupal Lovell-PatelNHS England and NHS Improvement, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1549-6913
Sarah FarrellCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5957-3282
Rupert BourneVision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8169-1645
Simon MahoneyDepartment of Information Studies, University College London, London, UK.
Sanjiv AhluwaliaSchool of Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
Mike TrottVision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5978-3407

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn the UK, the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) certifies a person as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind). This is completed by ophthalmologists and passed with the patient's consent to their GP, their local authority, and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists Certifications office. Once a person is certified, they can be registered by their local authority which is voluntary but enables the person to access rehabilitation or habitation services, financial concessions, welfare benefits and other services provided by local authorities.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 17 patients with a diagnosed eye condition, 4 Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLO) and 4 referring optometrists around their experiences around CVI and registration processes. Analysis of themes was conducted with results synthesised in a narrative analysis.

resultsPatients reported lack of clarity around the processes of certification and registration, benefits of certification and what happens beyond certification, the type of support that they are entitled to, delays in accessing support. Optometrists appear not to engage with the process much, especially if the patient is being treated by the hospital eye service.

conclusionVision loss can be a devastating experience for the patient. There is a lack of information and confusion around the process. The lack of a joined-up process between certification and registration needs to be addressed if we are to provide the support that patients deserve in order to improve their quality of life and wellbeing.

Indexed as

OptometristsQuality of LifeCertificationHumansVision DisordersVisual Acuity

Identifiers

PMID37076690
PMCPMC10630472

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.