Vision Pioneer Awards

James Sutton

The awards have been devised by the UK Vision Strategy and in collaboration with the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) and NB Online (the RNIB's online news and information site for eye health and sight loss professionals). By raising awareness of sight loss conditions and their optimum treatments, it is hoped the aims of the UK Vision Strategy will be promoted and met. We were invited to attend as guests of the RNIB. 

After a drinks and canapes reception, the awards began and were hysterically hosted by Chris McCausland, a stand-up comedian who lost his sight from retinitis pigmentosa. He was an absolute hoot and regaled us with his tales and challenges of being a blind husband and father in the modern world. If you get a chance to see him perform live, then take it. 

Irenie Ekkeshis wins Vision Pioneer Award for No Water campaign 

Anyway, back to the awards and their winners, there were five categories as follows;

Campaign of the Year 

No Water by Irenie Ekkeshis - see below 

Innovation 

Wayfindr by Royal London Society for the Blind (RLSB) - an app to help navigate with smartphone audio 

Professional of the Year (Adults) 

Simon Labbett, Rehabilitation Officer (Visual Impairment) at Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council and Chair of the Rehabilitation Workers' Professional Network 

Professional of the Year (Children and Young People) 

Paula Varney, Family Support Officer at Vista based at Leicester Royal Infirmary who helps families cope with a sight loss diagnosis 

Team of the Year 

Neuro-Ophthalmic Visual Impairment in Children clinic team at Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast Trust, supporting severely sight impaired children who previously were given very little help or information 

 

We were so pleased to see Irenie win, as her 'No Water' campaign resonates with our advice that opticians can offer swimmers who wear lenses - that prescription goggles are the safest option.

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"As an optometrist with a family history of macular degeneration, I am keen to source the widest range of products for eye health, dry eyes and blepharitis”

James Sutton (MCOptom)
Founder of Butterflies Eyecare

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