Surrey Association for Visual Impairment. Making a visible difference in Surrey.
Registration
Registration is not something to be fearful about. It is simply a means of officially recognising that certain changes in vision have taken place. In Surrey, SAVI maintains the confidential register of people who are blind or partially sighted, on behalf of Surrey County Council.
Keeping a register enables SAVI and local authorities to meet the needs of people with a visual impairment and offer them the best possible service. Registration is also essential for claiming certain financial benefits and concessions and for getting help from some local voluntary groups.
Follow this link to find about the advantages of being registered.
The register is divided into two parts containing information on:
Partially Sighted / Sight Impaired people
To be eligible for the blind / severely sight impaired register, a person must be so blind as to be unable to perform work for which eyesight is essential. To be eligible for the partially sighted / sight impaired register a person must be substantially and permanently handicapped by defective vision. Do remember that some 96% of registered blind people have some useful residual sight.
If you consider that you are within the definition of the above categories, you may seek registration. The initial request for registration must be made to your local doctor who will refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). Understandably, some people are reluctant to apply for official registration as a blind / severely sight impaired or partially sighted / sight impaired person. If you are hesitant, be reassured that all formality will be kept to the absolute minimum. Examination of the eyesight for registration purposes is straightforward and involves no painful processes. If the eye specialist confirms that you are within the criteria for registration, you will be given a copy of the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI). A copy of this form is sent to SAVI and our rehabilitation officer or social worker will then contact you and arrange to visit you to effect the registration and ensure that you are obtaining all the financial and practical help that is available.
We can send you information on The advantages of being registered visually impaired in Surrey. Alternatively, you could contact SAVI and ask for one of our Rehabilitation Team to visit you at your home to explain more about registration and answer your questions. There is no charge for registration or for the services of the Rehabilitation Team.
Registration Cards
SAVI issues a certificate of registration and a registration card. The card will offer proof of registration and will indicate the name and registration number of its holder. Should the card become lost or defaces it can be replaced on request. We do however urge people to take care of their registration certificate and card and place them in a secure place with other official papers.
Should you move to an address outside Surrey, please let us know so that we can transfer your registration to the appropriate local authority.
Other Help
Even if you are not eligible for registration, you can still have an assessment of your social care needs to get help with the problems caused by your sight loss. One way this can be done is for a staff member of the Eye Clinic to fill in a Referral of Visually Impaired Patient form (RVI) with you. They will send this form to SAVI and we will contact you.
A third route is for high street opticians and optometrists to give you a Low Vision Leaflet form (LVL) for you to refer yourself to SAVI. A copy of this form can be downloaded from this page for opticians and optometrists to access, stamp and issue to people.
Follow this link to download the Low Vision Leaflet
Head of Rehabilitation Services Profile
Find out more about SAVI Head of Rehabilitation Services, Sandra Gregory
Sight Loss
Learn about the most common eye conditions that can cause visual impairment.
Macular Disease
Cataract
Diabetic Retinopathy
Glaucoma
