One hundred thousand risk blindness

24 January 2006

More than one hundred thousand people in Wales (two million in the UK) are at risk of needlessly losing their sight through treatable eye conditions, according to a new report – Open Your Eyes – published today by RNIB.

RNIB Cymru today launches the Open Your Eyes campaign which aims to bring an end to preventable sight loss in Wales by 2020. Open Your Eyes reveals that more than half of all sight loss is avoidable and that unknowingly 95,000 people with diabetes and 12,500 people with early-stage glaucoma are at risk of losing their sight2. This figure is in addition to the one hundred thousand people in Wales who already have sight problems1.

Ruth Marks, Director of RNIB Cymru, explains: “Ignorance is quietly robbing people of their sight every day. Unless action is taken now many in Wales will this year needlessly lose their sight from conditions that could be treated if caught early.

“The Government needs to act now as the situation is going to get much worse with the explosion in the numbers of people with diabetes and as a result of the ageing of our population. RNIB Cymru wants the Government to invest in a large-scale public eye health awareness campaign on the importance of regular eye tests. Regular eye tests are vital for everyone – you’ll never regret an eye test. An eye test can save your sight.”

Open Your Eyes states nine out of ten people fear losing their sight above any other sense3 but one in four in Wales still failed to have an eye test in the last two years. The report clearly shows that few people understand the importance of an eye test in identifying potentially blinding conditions, with most giving the reason for not having an eye test as “they didn’t have a problem with their eyes”. 

Hazel Baker, 56, is a pharmacist from Heath in Cardiff who has a family history of glaucoma.  She commented: “My optician knew about my family history and was always very thorough.  He spotted changes in my eyes during a regular eye check and referred me straight to a specialist.  I had to use eye drops for four years, which kept any glaucoma I might have had under control.  They’re still not sure if I’ve got glaucoma, but it’s reassuring to know that they’re monitoring it closely.”

In addition to the huge problem of treatable sight loss a further twenty five thousand people in Wales are needlessly living with sight loss by not seeking treatment for cataracts (a routine operation that is successful in 90 per cent of cases) or by simply wearing the wrong prescription glasses.

RNIB Cymru is also launching a hard-hitting advertising and poster campaign across Wales to raise awareness of the vital importance of regular eye tests in preventing sight loss.

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For further media information, photos or to interview a case study please contact Kate Hughes, on 029 2044 9577 (out of hours mobile: 07753 799922) Ref: Open Your Eyes.

Notes to Editors:

1. Every day another 5 people in Wales will start to lose their sight. There are around 100,000 people in Wales with sight problems. RNIB Cymru is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB Cymru can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0845 766 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk.
2. Open Your Eyes, RNIB Campaign Report 25, Barbara McLaughlan, January 2006. Open Your Eyes reveals that over half of sight loss in the UK is avoidable. The report also states that 1.9 million have diabetes (which leads to retinopathy in at least 60% of cases causing irreversible sight loss unless treated early) and either don’t know it or aren’t having regular eye tests. A further 250,000 people have glaucoma in its early stages, which is treatable in nearly all cases if caught early, and are not aware of it.
3. Omnimas “Eye Test Study” Survey carried out between 28 October and 1 November 2005 on behalf of RNIB.
4. RNIB is a member of VISION 2020 UK - an umbrella organisation of more than 40 organisations within the UK which focus on visual impairment. The organisation facilitates greater collaboration and co-operation between members and has an overall aim of ending avoidable sight loss in the UK by 2020 www.vision2020uk.org.uk.
5. RNIB’s Open Your Eyes Campaign is supported by Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) www.abdo.org.uk, Association of Optometrists (AOP) www.aop.org.uk, The College of Optometrists www.college-optometrists.org, The Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) www.fodo.com and The General Optical Council (GOC) www.optical.org.
6. An RNIB leaflet “What an eye test checks – and how it could save your sight” is available from RNIB Customer Services on 0845 345 0054.