Nick Radford: My name is Nick Radford.
I have Retinitis Pigmentosa.
It's a genetic disorder and over the past six months or so I've noticed quite a bit
of deterioration in my eyesight which obviously was concerning so I decided to seek advice.
Richard Wormald: Mr Radford my name is Richard Wormald.
I'm an Ophthalmologist and I'm a Consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital where I've been
since 1994.
The certification of vision impairment is making an official statement about a patient's
level of vision.
It's an extremely important process for patients who are having difficulty with their vision
because it opens the door to a wide range of services and support.
Nick Radford: When I was first informed that I could be
certified as visually impaired my - I was in my mid-teens.
My initial reaction was very negative and all I could think of was, I'm not disabled,
I'm not blind, I'm not going to put myself into that box.
It was that psychological barrier of thinking that's me admitting defeat.
Richard Wormald: I think in this case because the sight has
got so poor you're entitled to be certified as severely vision impaired.
That doesn't mean you're completely blind, far from it but according to the criteria
your sight is poor enough to entitle you to the maximum level of benefits.
Certification is not the end of the road.
It doesn't mean we can't do anything else to help.
In fact it means there's a lot more that we can do to help and this is the process that
enables it.
Nick Radford: I began to realise that whether I'm certified
or not my condition is the same but with certification come this whole heap of benefits and opportunities
and support.
As long as I don't let that sort of define me then it doesn't change anything it just
helps.
Richard Wormald: So if you're willing to go ahead shall we
consider filling in the form now?
Nick Radford: Yeah, yeah definitely.
Richard Wormald: If that sounds okay.
Nick Radford: When I went back to Moorfields and raised
my desire to get certified it was a really simple easy process.
The Specialist at Moorfields told me what the options were, what would happen.
He explained everything to me and filled out the form for me and then I took that up to
the CVI office at Moorfields and they processed it and sent it straight to the Council.
So it was relatively painless..
Richard Wormald: The services and benefits that are available
depend to some extent on the - whether you're certified as vision impaired or severe vision
impaired.
They range from a number of tax benefits, concessions but most importantly really they're
about letting the local Social Services know that you have a problem with your sight and
then you'll be contacted and offered a range of options.
Nick Radford: Since I've been certified the help I've had
is access to work.
I've applied for and got a Disabled Rail Pass, a Freedom Pass.
I've been to the Low Vision Clinic to have an assessment there where I was given a magnifying
glass to help read small print.
I've also begun to apply for a Blue Badge and I've started long cane training.
I do regret that I didn't do it earlier because there is so much help on offer and you don't
need to take it all.
You don't need to take any of it but my advice would be to just try and be as objective as
possible.
I understand the emotions and the fears but they really are significantly outweighed
by the benefits.