English

About the Center

The Center is a public institute governed by the Ministry of Welfare. All services provided regardless of who the recipient is; and individual, family, school, local authorities or other government agencies are free of charge.

The Center provides services mainly in the rehabilitation and education area and does not provide initial medical diagnosis or medical treatment. The Center is responsible for a national database regarding visually impaired and blind individuals.

Acceptance criteria for services is visual impairment at 30% or less. Definition of low vision in Iceland is 30-10% sight and legally blind at 10% or less. The Center os also responsible for services for the deafblind.

On file at the Center are approx. 1500 individuals (0,5% of population).

50% of clients are legally blind, 50% are in low vision categories.

73% are 67 years of age and older.

7% are children, 18 years of age and younger.

40% are male and 60% are female.

10% of clients have a combined low vision and hearing impairment, almost all of them are older than 67 years of age.

Additional 250 individuals with eye prosthesis.

5000 per year for eyewear.

The Center works with other institutes for appropriate services such as local services for;

• Transportation
• Assistance at home
• Library for the blind for audio books
• Hearing center for screening for hearing
• Customers have to buy assistive devices like phones, lamps etc. themselves