Only an Ophthalmologist can confirm if you are eligible to be Registered as Blind or Partially Sighted. They will ask you to sign a form - now referred to as 'the CVI' (Certificate of Visual Impairment'* - which will then be sent to the Social Services office nearest to your home. Sometimes people believe that by signing this form they 'get Registered' at this point but this isn't so, your signature on the certificate only gives consent to the information that you are eligible to be Registered, being passed on to Devon Social Services. A copy is also sent to your own doctor.
Devon Social Services has a legal duty to maintain Registers of people with disabilities. As regards visual impairment there are two Registers: one for Blind* and the other for Partial Sight*. The Ophthalmologist will decide which Register you are eligible for. At many Out-Patient Clinics the Ophthalmologist may also give you a copy of our large print booklet Registering as Blind or Partially Sighted 
(45KB - pdf help).
Please note that most visually impaired people who are to be Registered as Blind still have some useful vision. Being on the Blind Register doesn't necessarily mean that you are going to lose all your sight at a later date either.
When the local office receives your CVI form from the Ophthalmologist, a ROVI (Rehabilitation Officer with Visually Impaired people) will offer to visit you. They will go over with you what services and benefits are available to you in being Registered. They will also offer to assess your needs and advise and help as appropriate.
Some of the benefits are also dependent on age, circumstances and which Register you are eligible for. These are also listed in our Seeing Sense information available on tape, large print and in other formats from our Social Services' Public Information & Communication section on 01392 382332,
Registration is voluntary. You can only be registered if you give your consent to the ROVI who will then arrange for a proof of Registration card to be sent you.
*The CVI form used to be called the 'BD8' - and in places stocks of the BD8 are still in use. The CVI (Certificate of Visual Impairment) performs the same function as the BD8 used to. That is, it formally certifies someone as Partially sighted or as Blind although the preferred terminology is now to be: 'Sight Impaired / Partially Sighted' or 'Severely Sight Impaired / Blind'.
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