Registered Blind and Partially Sighted Persons, Scotland 2010

To present national figures on visually impaired persons registered with Local Authorities in Scotland.

This document is part of a collection


Section 2: Partially Sighted Persons

There were an estimated 15,550 registered partially sighted persons in 2010. This is very slightly up on last year (0.1 per cent). The number of people registered as partially sighted has been steadily rising over the last 11 years to 2006 with a slight dip in numbers in 2007, increasing again in 2008. The number of new cases registered during the year was 1,825. This is up nine per cent on the previous year. The number of people registered partially sighted per 1,000 population is 3.0 for this year. This has remained at around the same level since 2003. (see Table 2a).

Table 2a: Number of Registered Partially Sighted Persons and New Registrations during the years 2000-2010

Year 1

New Cases

Total

Registered per 1000 Pop'n

2010

1,825

15,550

3.0

2009

1,680

15,537

3.0

2008

1,738

15,957

3.1

2007

1,845

15,181

3.0

2006

1,953

15,569

3.0

2005

1,759

15,339

3.0

2004

1,855

14,770

2.9

2003

1,748

14,443

2.9

2002

2,061

13,972

2.8

2001

1,856

13,676

2.7

2000

1,839

13,636

2.7

1 Care should be taken when commenting on trends as the fall in numbers since 2000 is explained in part by improvements in reporting procedures by some local authorities.
Source: Registration of Blind and Partially Sighted Persons Return Form SWB

Data on registered partially sighted individuals shows a similar picture to that of registered blind individuals. Approximately three-quarters (74 per cent) of registered partially sighted persons are over the age of 65, with approximately two-thirds (63 per cent) being aged 75 or over. There are significantly more women registered as partially sighted (62 per cent) than men (38 per cent). Again, just under half (44 per cent) of all registered partially sighted people are women aged 75 and over (see table 2b).

This large proportion of partially sighted women aged 75 or over is also mirrored in the new registrations where 42 per cent of the new registered cases are women aged 75 and over. Excluding the '75 and over' age group there is a much more even split between the sexes (see Table 2b & Chart 2b).

Table 2b: Number of Registered Partially Sighted Persons and New Registrations by Age and Gender, 2010

AGE

New Cases

Total Cases

Male

Female

Male

Female

Total

Under 16

39

21

265

177

442

16-29

31

22

392

306

698

30-49

68

67

695

592

1,287

50-64

95

99

809

809

1,618

65-74

109

179

794

963

1,757

75 and over

322

773

2,913

6,835

9,748

All ages-Total

664

1,161

5,868

9,682

15,550

Source: Registration of Blind and Partially Sighted Persons Return Form SWB

Chart 2b: Percentage of Registered Partially Sighted Persons and New Registrations by Age and Gender, 2010

Chart 2b: Percentage of Registered Partially Sighted Persons and New Registrations by Age and Gender, 2010

Source: Registration of Blind and Partially Sighted Persons Return Form SWB

The number of people registered partially sighted per 1,000 population is 3.0 for the whole of Scotland. This varies from 1.6 in Moray to 4.6 in Argyll and Bute. A more detailed breakdown showing the rate per 1,000 population by age and sex for each Local Authority is available in Annex B.

An estimated 4,586 (29 per cent) of all registered partially sighted persons have additional disabilities, around three-quarters (73 per cent) of which are aged 65 and over. Physical disabilities account for over half (56 per cent) and nearly a quarter (22 per cent) are deaf (see Table 2c).

Table 2c: Number of Registered Partially Sighted Persons with Additional Disabilities by Age, 2010

Additional Disability

AGE

Total

Under 16

16-64

65 and over

Deaf

10

102

891

1,003

Physically Disabled

49

579

1,939

2,567

Learning Difficulties

23

185

43

251

Mental Health Problems

2

99

209

310

Multiple Disabilities

33

146

276

455

Total

117

1,111

3,358

4,586

Source: Registration of Blind and Partially Sighted Persons Return Form SWB

Back to top