Impaired vision to double in 25 years, says blind charity
Scotland’s poor health at fault
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SCOTS are facing a sight-loss “timebomb”, the Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland said yesterday.
The charity predicts that over the next 25 years the number of people with impaired vision will more than double to 400,000.
It says the situation is due in part to an ageing population and persistently high rates of diabetes, obesity, smoking and poor health.
Smoking and obesity can double the possibility of sight loss, according to research.
RNIB Scotland says that although the country is already leading the way in many eye-care services, including free eye examinations, more needs to be done.
To combat the situation, a new five-year strategy to improve eye-care is being launched at the Scottish Parliament today.
It has been hailed by Public Health Minister Shona Robison as the most concerted drive to safeguard eyesight undertaken in Scotland.
The Scottish vision strategy is being launched at a meeting of the cross-party parliamentary group on visual impairment.
It is supported by backbench MSPs, RNIB Scotland, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Optometry Scotland.
The strategy will raise awareness among those most at risk of eye disease.
RNIB Scotland director John Legg said: “It signals our determination to work together to make a real and lasting difference to eye health and to improve the lives of those who have lost some or all of their sight.
“We have here a real opportunity to secure world- class services over the next five years.
“International research has shown there is a four-fold return on investment in early eye-care intervention.”
Ms Robison, Dundee East MSP, said “significant strides” have already been made to improve the sight of Scots including sight-screening for all four to five-year-olds and free eye-examinations for all.
However, she said too many people are still not fully aware of the impact their lifestyles and health conditions can have on their sight.
