Registered Blind and Partially Sighted Persons, Scotland 2010
To present national figures on visually impaired persons registered with Local Authorities in Scotland.
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
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
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