Information Booklets

Low Vision: the essential guide for all ophthalmologists	This book originally published in 2008 is now available to download in PDF format from The Royal College of Ophthalmologists' website. The book aims to equip an ophthalmologist with all the knowledge and practical skills necessary to provide excellent care and advice to patients with low vision and their families. It is also an excellent resource for patients, and family members or carers of patients with low vision.
NPSA/RCOphth Cataract Surgery Checklist PDF Version Word Version	Surgical Safety Checklist: for Cataract Surgery The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has been working with the National Patient Safety Agency to produce a safer surgery checklist for cataract surgery (May 2010)
	Understanding Age-Related Macular Degeneration Sometimes the delicate cells of the macula become damaged and stop working, and there are many different conditions that can cause this. If it occurs later in life, it is called 'age-related macular degeneration'. Download in pdf or Word format
	Understanding Cataracts A cataract is a clouding of part of your eye called the lens. Your vision becomes blurred because the cataract is like frosted glass, interfering with your sight. Download in pdf or Word format
	Understanding Retinitis Pigmentosa Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the name given to a group of hereditary eye disorders. These disorders affect the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye, in which the first stages of seeing take place. Download in pdf or Word format
	Understanding Retinal Detachment Retinal detachments often develop in eyes with retinas weakened by a hole or tear. This allows fluid to seep underneath, weakending the attachment so that the retina becomes detached - rather like wallpaper peeling off a damp wall. Download in pdf or Word format
	Understanding nystagmus Nystagmus is an involuntary movement of the eyes - usually from side to side, but sometimes the eyes oscillate up and down or even in a circular motion. Most people with nystagmus have vision which is much worse than average - well below what is considered to be short sighted. Download
	Understanding Glaucoma Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged at the point at which it leaves the eye. This nerve carries information from the light sensitive layer in your eye, the retina, to the brain where it is received as a picture. Download in pdf or Word format
	Understanding Eye Conditions Related to Diabetes Estimates suggest that nearly one person in twenty five in the UK is affected by diabetes mellitus, a condition which means that, due to a lack of insulin, the body cannot cope normally with sugar and other carbohydrates in the diet. Diabetes can start in childhood, but more often begins in later life. Download in pdf or Word format
	Understanding Dry Eye Download in pdf or Word format
	Understanding Charles Bonnet Syndrome Download in pdf or Word format
	Understanding Posterior Vitreous Detachment Download in pdf or Word format

Understanding Series available in other languages

The RNIB have translated four of the understanding series into community languages. Audio and PDF versions of Understanding AMD, Cataracts, Glaucoma and Eye Conditions related to Diabetes are available in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Welsh. Click here for more information >More