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The Royal Victoria Infirmary Eye Clinic. Claremont Wing, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle on Tyne,NE1 4LP. Tel: 0191 227 5205 has its own Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) Direct telephone 0191 282 0221

The ECLO is your Eye department link person - feel free to make contact. The ECLO has an office in the R.V.I. Optician's Section of the Eye Department and normally sees every patient after a consultant has decided that you could benefit from other services. If your eye sight is below a certain position on the chart (acuity) and no further medical help is possible for your sight you may be eligible for certification as Seriously Blind or Partially Sighted. If you have agreed to a certificate registration by your Local Authority Social Services Department. But do not despair, there hundreds of others in the Area with the same or worse problems who are living active and useful lives. The ECLO will advise you how to go along the road of learning to live with your sight problem. This process has the title of rehabilitation, which is unfortunate but do not be put off - there are many help opportunities available for you. Note that at this stage it is entirely up to you whether or not you become registered, if you register you may de-register at any time. There are usually various benefits from becoming registered and In due course you will be contacted by Social Services to offer you practical help. The benefits which are possible are listed at Social Services

The ECLO can also pass your name on to other organisations – e.g. your Local Voluntary Society, Local Tape Services like Tyne Sound News, etc. and provide you with as much information about coping with visual impairment as you are prepared to listen to and/or take away.

Contact the ECLO on (0191) 282 0221 weekdays - answerphone when unavailable.