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71
WELFARE OF THE BLIND AND PARTIALLY-SIGHTED
Certification
52. An initial visit is made by the social welfare officer to a person
suffering from defective vision and the person is invited to be
examined with a view to registration as blind or partially-sighted.
Certification is carried out by an ophthalmologist of consultant
status who examines the person's eyes, usually at his consulting
rooms, and completes a Form B.D.8. As a result of the certification
a person is registered as either blind or partially-sighted. Copies
of the B.D.8 are supplied to the appropriate family doctor. The
definition of a blind person in this country is "a person who is so
blind as to be unable to perform any work for which eyesight is
essential". A partially-sighted person is a person who is substantially
and permanently handicapped by congenital defective vision
or in whose case illness or injury has caused defective vision of a
substantial and permanently handicapping character. In the case of
a person under the age of 65 being registered, a copy of the B.D.8
is sent to Professor Sorsby, M.D., F.R.C.S., Research Professor in
Ophthalmology, Royal College of Surgeons, for research purposes.
53. 96 persons were examined for the first time by consultant
ophthalmologists during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1966;
26 re-examinations took place. The total fees paid amounted to
£497 3s. 0d. First examinations accounted for £413 3s. 0d. of this
amount and the remainder, £84, was for re-examinations.