Monthly clinics at the Manx Blind Welfare centre in Onchan now offer a specialist low vision assessment with optometrist Gillian Sheard as well as a functional assessment with Julie Lee, the RNIB's senior rehabilitation officer.

At the same time, patients can also try out a range of equipment which can be bought or loaned from the Manx Blind Welfare Society.

The RNIB team also offers follow-up visits and access to other support services from the Manx Blind Welfare Society.

In some cases proper assessment can make the difference between a person managing daily activities and hobbies or needing help with basic things like reading mail and newspapers.

For the Island's 400 blind and partially-sighted people the new integrated service is an extension of the one offered for several years by Gillian Sheard at her practice.

With the right help and advice, about 80 per cent of visually-impaired people can improve their function and, therefore, independence. That help might be in the form of a prescription magnifier, or advice on correct lighting.

'We have had 100 per cent feed-back so far, so the service has been very well received,' said Peter Cartmel the social services partnership and contracts manager.

'The service will make a difference to whether people can read or not, or catch a bus or not.'

RNIB senior manager Charlie Mack added: 'It is an excellent example of pooling resources and working together and having more impact on people's lives. It does not happen anywhere else.'

The Manx Blind Welfare Society also has high tech computer equipment with enhanced software for use by the visually impaired and there is also magnification equipment which will enlarge things up to 50 times.

'Though the partnership for the visually impaired existed before, it looks each year at what else it can do. It is a customer-led service,' Julie said.

Social services director Andrew Swithinbank summed up: 'If we can get a result from a relatively small input like this, then that is wonderful.'