New service for people with very poor eyesight

Health Minister Joe Cassar this morning launched the Low Vision Aids Service, which will be provided from the Ophthalmic Outpatient Department at Mater Dei as from tomorrow. The service, which will be run by Martin Francalanza, is for people who, although not completely blind, have extremely low vision. People have to be referred to the clinic by their general practitioner. Once at the clinic, they will be professionally assessed to determine which aid was best for them. They would be allowed to test the aid at the hospital and may even be loaned that aid for a few days. This was to help them determine which would be the best aid for them to buy. These aids cost an average of €80. These aids are most useful to elderly whose sight has degenerated due to age. Some 200 people a year are expected to use this service.