Open your Eyes campaing in the UK
On 24 January, Rnib - Royal National Institute of the Blind launched the Open Your Eyes campaign which aims to bring an end to preventable sight loss in the UK by 2020. Open Your Eyes reveals that more than half of all sight loss is avoidable and that unknowingly 1.9 million people with diabetes and 250,000 people with early-stage glaucoma are at risk of losing their sight. This figure is in addition to the two million people in the UK already with sight problems.
Steve Winyard, Rnib's Head of Campaigns, explains: 'Ignorance is quietly robbing people of their sight every day. Unless action is taken now thousands of people in the UK 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 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 sense, but one in three 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'.
In addition to the huge problem of treatable sight loss a further half a million people in the UK 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 is also launching a hard-hitting advertising and poster campaign across the UK to raise awareness of the vital importance of regular eye tests in preventing sight loss.
