One thing you must do amid 27% increase in people with sight loss

One in five people will experience sight loss in their lifetime, the RNIB says

A charity has issued a warning that the UK could witness a 27% surge in individuals living with sight loss by 2035. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has projected that an estimated 2.8 million people across the UK will be living with sight loss in just over a decade, with one in five people experiencing sight loss during their lifetime.

The data also suggests that the percentage of individuals in the UK with severe sight loss or registered as blind is set to increase by 29%, from 298,000 in 2022 to 379,000 in 2035. The RNIB attributes this rise primarily to increased life expectancy, but also points to factors such as delayed diagnosis and treatment times and a growing number of people living with diabetes.

The charity further forecasts that by 2050, the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to over four million. The RNIB is now urging the Government to devise a national eye care plan, while also advising individuals to take proactive steps towards maintaining their health by scheduling an eye test every two years.

Matt Stringer, chief executive of the RNIB, emphasised the importance of eye health, stating: "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."

He also highlighted the broader health implications of eye examinations: "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.", reports Gloucestershire Live.

The statement comes against the backdrop of concerns over diabetic retinopathy, a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the retina at the back of the eye, potentially leading to blindness if it's not identified and treated promptly.

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