This World Sight Day, leading sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) was calling for the UK Government to prioritise eye health. This is after fresh insight from the charity that shows there will be a 27% increase in the number of people in the UK living with sight loss by the year 2035.
New research by RNIB shows that, based on the current prevalence and future population projections, an estimated 2.8 million people across the UK will be living with sight loss in the next eleven years. Based on estimates from 2022, this equates to an increase of 27 per cent in the number of people who will have sight loss by 2035, which means one in five people in the UK will experience sight loss in their lifetime.
In that same time, there’s also likely to be a significant increase in the number of people in the UK with severe sight loss or being registered blind, with a 29 per cent increase (298,000 in 2022 rising to 379,000 in 2035).
Some of the key factors leading to this rise in people living with sight loss in the UK include an increase in life expectancy, an ageing population and demographic changes.
In addition, waiting times for diagnosis and treatment and an increase in the number of people living with diabetes are also factors in even larger increases of people experiencing sight loss in their lifetime.
RNIB is calling on the UK Government to prioritise eye health to stop avoidable sight loss and ensure everyone is getting the right support at the right time. In England we’re calling on the Government to develop a National Eye Care Plan. Individuals can look after their eyes by attending regular eye tests every two years – even when there is no change in your vision. Having regular eye checks can pick up early signs of sight-threatening conditions. Early detection and timely treatment of certain sight conditions can help preserve sight and prevent avoidable sight loss.
Matt Stringer, RNIB’s CEO said, “Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of common sight conditions are key to reduce the number of people who will experience sight loss in their lifetime. Regular eye tests are crucial in preventing avoidable sight loss. They’re essential for everyone, even if you think your eyesight is fine, as many conditions that can be picked up in a routine eye test, begin with no obvious symptoms and often sight conditions can be treated if detected early enough.
“In addition to eye health, an eye test can detect other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, risk of stroke and heart disease.
“As well as calling on the UK public to get their eyes tested regularly every two years, RNIB is calling on the UK Government to develop and implement a National Eye Care plan to fix delays in eye care and stop avoidable sight loss.”
RNIB wants to raise awareness of the symptoms of sight conditions that can lead to sight loss – these conditions include age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. For more information, please visit RNIB’s website at www.rnib.org.uk, or please contact the RNIB Eye Health Information Team on eye.health@rnib.org.uk or 0303 123 9999.
