Holby City actor to open Low Vision Day

Actor Hugh Quarshie, a star of the BBC TV medical drama Holby City, will be on hand to officially open Low Vision Day at St Thomas’ Hospital next Saturday 18 October.

The annual event will welcome several charities and manufacturers of low vision aids and there will also be some new, innovative and fun features.

The day will start with tennis for the visually impaired in which a tennis ball with bells  is rallied by blindfolded players. Wheels for Wellbeing will get people cycling and a unique low vision hospital choir - VIP Singers - will perform.

Technical wizardry will be on display including computers that read for you and talk to you.  On a more serious note, Action for Blind People will give careers advice to visually impaired teenagers and there will also be self-defence sessions. 

Dr Sarah Janikoun, an associate specialist doctor in the eye team at St Thomas’, says: “Our aim over the years with the day has been to build up local knowledge about how to deal with low vision. 

“There really is no other forum like it and, when we started doing this eight years ago, very little was known about low vision.  Now there’s a lot more interest in it.”

Low Vision Day runs from 10am-2pm on Saturday 18 October in Shepherd Hall on the ground floor of St Thomas’ Hospital - Hugh Quarshie (Ric Griffin in Holby City) will officially open the event at 12 noon.