NHS Low Vision Assessments
Portsmouth And South East Hampshire:
Update Oct 2026: Communication from the ICB
The Low Vision Service and Stable Glaucoma contract will continue for the 2026/27 financial year. We would therefore be grateful if you could continue to see and support patients in line with the existing service arrangements.
Practices in the Portsmouth area should already have been informed that Portsmouth City Council is no longer able to support the provision of Low Vision equipment. As a result, we have been in discussions with Associated Optical, who have kindly agreed to provide the required equipment to support the service and liaise directly with the ICB regarding any associated payments.
The ICB is currently in discussions regarding the renewal of contracts going forward and will provide a further update as soon as these arrangements have been finalised. In the meantime variations to the existing contracts will be issued separately and should be signed and returned as soon as possible to ensure there is no interruption to service provision.
We would also like to remind providers that claims for patients seen under the Low Vision Service and the Stable Glaucoma Service should continue to be submitted on a quarterly basis, in line with the service requirements. Timely submission of claims will help ensure that payments are processed promptly. Please submit all claims via email to Sophie Green at sophie.green7@nhs.net.
Please continue to deliver the services as usual while these arrangements are being finalised.
Low Vision Service Specification for Fareham & Gosport and South Eastern Hampshire – here
Low Vision Claim Form for Fareham & Gosport and South Eastern Hampshire – here
Providers of Service (Oct 2026):
If an optometrist feels a patient would benefit from a NHS Low Vision Service, you can direct the patients to these practices:
- Denmead Eye Care – Denmead – Confirmed
- Martin Steels – Emsworth – waiting confirmation
- Richard C Arnold – Cowplain -waiting confirmation
- Arnold and Sons (Leightons) – Petersfield -waiting confirmation
- Purbrook Eyecare – Purbrook – Confirmed
- Leightons opticians – Fareham – Confirmed
- Tombs and Allen opticians – Gosport -Confirmed
- Philips and Edgeworth – Gosport -Confirmed
- Forrest Opticians – Drayton – waiting confirmation
- Percy Harrison – Southsea -waiting confirmation
- Portsea Island Eyecare – North End, Portsmouth – Confirmed
- Specsavers Cosham – Cosham -waiting confirmation
- Specsavers Southsea – Southsea -waiting confirmation
- Specsavers Portsmouth – North End -waiting confirmation
Winchester and Basingstoke Area
There is a commissioned service for NHS Low Vision Assessments directly between HHFT and the following practice (Oct 2026)
- Optimum Vision Clinic Tadley
Isle of Wight
NHS LVA assessments are done at St Mary’s hospital (either by an orthoptist or trained AHP (allied health professional)). Optometrists can do a direct referral to LVA clinic and send copy to GP
Open Sight
OpenSight is a Hampshire based charity dedicated to supporting individuals living with, or at risk of, low vision or blindness. OpenSight will provide free low vision assessments to patients. Patients will need to pay for any visual aid supports.
List of locations and times of support groups for patients: https://opensight.org.uk/support-groups/
If you want to refer a patient to OpenSight: https://opensight.org.uk/make-a-referral/
Sensory Loss Team – Hampshire County Council
If you know of anyone having substantial difficulties managing with their sight loss, hearing loss or both, anyone can make a direct referral to Hampshire County Council. Visit their website – here or, phone 0300 555 1386
For Southampton City Council Website – here
ECLO
Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLO) provide both emotional support and practical advice and information to anybody who is affected by sight loss.
Portsmouth Trust Hospital (QA)
Update Sept 2026: If a patient requires support from an ECLO, optometrists can refer directly to the current ECLO Nancy Bridgewater by using this email nancy.bridgewater@nhs.net
Hampshire Trust Hospitals (Winchester and Basingstoke)
Updated Oct 2026: If a patient requires support from an ECLO, optometrists can refer directly to the current ECLO Maureen Versluys Maureen.Versluys@rnib.org.uk
University Southampton Trust Hospital
There is not currently an ECLO at Southampton
St Mary’s IOW Trust Hospital
Update Oct 2026: Laura Goojar is the ECLO