THERE are 1,130 people in Solihull living with sight loss, according to a charity.
To mark National Eye Health Week (September 23 to 29), Specsavers Solihull is raising awareness about the dangers of ignoring telltale signs of eye conditions that can lead to sight loss.
This comes as statistics by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) show that by 2032 the number of people living with sight loss in Solihull will rise to 9,630.
Among the conditions that can cause sight loss are age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
The RNIB figures also show that one in five people will experience sight loss in their lifetime.
Rehan Bhatti, store director at Specsavers Solihull, said: “Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of common eye conditions are key to reducing the number of people suffering sight loss unnecessarily; a large percentage of sight loss could be avoided if people have their eyes checked regularly.
“Sight tests are essential for everyone even if you think your eyes are fine, because damage can be done before you notice it.
“For example, an eye test can spot glaucoma years before people notice a change in their vision, and it can be treated if found soon enough.
“As well as assessing your eye health, a sight test can detect other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, risk of stroke and heart disease.”
Specsaver say eye health can also be affected by the overuse of electronic screens.
Rehan added: “Overuse of screens without a break can result in dry eyes, tired eyes and even blurred vision.
“We should all give our eyes a rest by following the 20-20-20 rule – looking away from the screen for 20 seconds every 20 minutes and focusing on something 20 feet away.
‘It’s also advisable to break up screen time by spending time outdoors, which enables us to focus on things further away.”
