A pilot involving Blind Low Vision NZ (BLVNZ) and six Specsavers stores demonstrated that strengthened referral pathways increase access to support for people living with low vision or blindness.
The collaboration focused on improving optometrists’ awareness of services and support beyond clinical care and included webinars, monthly newsletters and in-store educational presentations delivered by local BLVNZ teams.
During the 12-month pilot, 109 patients were referred to BLVNZ, representing a significant increase compared to previous years and compared to stores that didn’t participate in the pilot. All patients were successfully registered with BLVNZ and received tailored support based on their needs and goals, Specsavers said.
The pilot showed that when optometrists are confident in the services available and have a streamlined way to refer, patients are more likely to be connected with support, said Marika Fiolitakis, head of referrals and registrations at BLVNZ. “Most referrals were submitted using the online form, which ensured complete patient information and enabled timely follow-up. Feedback received during the pilot will inform future improvements to the form’s usability, including how to make the process more efficient in busy clinical settings.”
What stood out was not just the number of referrals, she said, but the profiles of the patients referred. “Many patients had long-standing vision loss, with diagnoses such as albinism, retinitis pigmentosa, or chronic diabetic retinopathy. In some cases, these individuals had been under ophthalmological or optometric care for years without having previously connected to BLVNZ. Their referral during the pilot suggests that patient needs change over time and individuals may be more receptive to support at different points in their vision-loss journey.”
