Forum Brief: Blindness

Early screening programmes to detect eye diseases would not only save sight but billions of pounds for the government, a charity has claimed.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association revealed its conclusion in the first-ever report to analyse the "cost of blindness" in the UK.

Published on Monday it estimates that there are around 920,000 blind and partially sighted people in England alone.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The government takes eye screening, detection and treatment seriously.

"£73 million funding has been announced to provide faster access to cataract operations. The Diabetes National Service Framework is delivering £27 million to purchase digital cameras to screen for the early detection of diabetic eye disease.

"The government has set up a national group involving the patients groups, the RNIB, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in modernising NHS services for benefit of patients and practitioners. £4 million has already been allocated to fund the piloting of improvements for patients suffering from chronic eye disease and low vision."

Forum Response: Guide Dogs for the Blind

Robin Hutchinson, head of communications and campaigns for Guide Dogs for the Blind, said: "This report is just the first step towards a greater understanding of the cost to patients, their families and the government.

"Early detection of many eye diseases can prevent or minimise sight loss.

"We want to highlight to the government not only how they could save substantial amounts of money by investing in early intervention, but also could help save the sight of thousands of people."

Forum Response: Royal National Institute for the Blind

A spokesman for RNIB told ePolitix.com: "Via its numerous eye health campaigns, and particularly during Eye Test Action Day, RNIB's once yearly call for people to have a regular eye test, RNIB has consistently stressed the importance of once yearly tests for potentially vulnerable groups such as the elderly to have their eyes checked every year.

"RNIB considers an eye test as a health check. It can detect not only sight threatening diseases and disorders to the eye, it can also detect serious life threatening conditions including leukaemia and tumours in the brain."

Forum Response: Voice UK

Kathryn Stone, director of Voice UK, told ePolitix.com: "Voice UK welcomes the call for early screening of eye disease. This will enable more consideration to be given to early treatment and perhaps prevention of further deterioration.

"This, of course , is not simply about saving money but about enabling people to make informed choices about their treatment and support."