The National Council for the Blind (NCBI) welcomed yesterday’s publication of the National Cardiovascular Health Policy 2010-2019, but urged the Government to commit also to the development of a Vision Strategy.

NCBI CEO Des Kenny said: “We have national plans in place for many health conditions, but we also urgently need a strategy for vision loss. This is because the number of vision impaired people aged 55 years and over is estimated to increase by over 350% between 2006 and 2031.

“We can no longer afford to wait for an imminent vision health crisis before embracing the need to plan for curative and rehabilitation services around eye health and sight loss. It is known that there are currently over 15,000 people who are blind or vision impaired in the country. This number swells by at least 30,000 if reduced vision due to the wearing of incorrect lenses is taken into account.

“The first step is for the current data in all our national eye units to be joined up within a common standard. The second step is to quantify and cost eye health and its associated rehabilitation around sight loss. With more detailed information, future eye health interventions could be planned for and delivered in the most cost effective manner.”

The call for a Vision Strategy is also supported by other leading eye health groups including Fighting Blindness, The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, St Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired, the Association of Optometrists Ireland and the Irish College of Ophthalmologists.

ENDS

Further Information

Carol Faulkner, NCBI Communications Officer, email: carol.faulkner@ncbi.ie or Tel: 01 8821975.