VISION 2020 UK seek lay members to join Prevelance Study Project Board
6 April 2016
VISION 2020 UK are seeking lay members to join The United Kingdom Eye Survey as part of the Prevalence Study Project board.
What is The United Kingdom Eye Survey?
The United Kingdom Eye Survey is a large research project to find out about the eye health of people living in the UK.
Why is the survey happening?
At the moment there is no comprehensive, up-to-date and reliable source of information about eye health in the UK. This information could be used to:
- Adjust NHS and other resources where needed
- Make sure that there is equal access to good eye care
- Raise awareness of how to prevent sight loss
- Raise money for medical research
- Understand the outcomes for people after treatment for sight loss
Who is involved in The United Kingdom Eye Survey?
The United Kingdom Eye Survey is an initiative of VISION 2020 UK.
The VISION 2020 UK Prevalence Study Project Board members include:
- Ophthalmologists, researchers and statisticians
- Lay people – patients, service users, carers, members of the public
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists – the professional body for Ophthalmologists in the UK
- Fight for Sight – the largest UK charity dedicated to eye research
- Royal National Institute of Blind People(RNIB) – UK charity offering practical and emotional support for blind and partially sighted people
- The College of Optometrists – the professional body for Optometry in the UK
- Guide Dogs- UK charity providing mobility for blind and partially sighted people
- Thomas Pocklington Trust – National charity providing support for people with sight loss.
- The Macular Society – the national charity for anyone affected by central vision loss
What type of information will the survey collect?
Examples of information VISION 2020 UK are hoping to collect include:
- How common different eye conditions are – for example how many people in the UK have glaucoma or diabetic eye disease
- How common different eye conditions are depending on age, ethnicity, gender, location or financial situation
- The health needs of children born with sight loss
- Who uses eye health services and low vision services
- What types of sight loss affect people in care homes and special schools
What is expected of lay members of the project board?
Lay members will be expected to:
Attend project board meetings that take place in London every 3 months
- Share opinions, make suggestions and ask questions about the survey
- Read papers and reports (plain English explanations of any technical documents will be provided)
- Have enough confidence and time to read, question and comment in meetings and by email
- Think about how the project might affect patients and the public overall, not just about issues that affect the lay members themselves
Members do not need to be experts in, or have experience of, research or eye health, although having this experience might be useful.
Meetings are confidential during the planning stages of the project but once the methodology has been agreed the work of the project board will be in the public domain on the VISION 2020 UK website.
How long does this work last?
This is difficult to predict but in the first instance agreeing the methodology might take a number of meetings.
Do lay members of the project board receive expenses?
Travel expenses will be paid by member organisations of the board. A claim form will be provided and receipts are required.
How do I apply?
Please contact info@vision2020uk.org.uk and include ‘Lay Member Prevalence Study Board’ in the subject box. Please say why you would like to join the board and what skills you can offer. You can also mention any experience you have.
VISION 2020 UK encourages blind and partially sighted people to join the project board as lay members.
Closing date for applications is Friday 13th May 2016.
(This is an abridged version of VISION 2020 UK’s information sheet – which you can view here)