Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, TD, today launched the new NCBI website and unveiled the charity’s new logo to mark World Sight Day for first time in Ireland.

The Minister outlined the importance of regular eye tests, backing up NCBI’s call for people to look after their eyesight. “Some of the main causes of blindness in Ireland are either preventable or treatable but early detection is vital. Regular check-ups may detect many treatable conditions before they become a serious problem. Changes in lifestyle can also help protect sight, including maintaining a healthy diet and giving up smoking. The rise of diabetes among young people in Ireland is a worry in itself but many people don’t realise that diabetes affects their eyesight and go blind as a result,” stated the Minister.

2006 is NCBI’s 75th year, having been established in 1931 to promote the independence of people with sight loss. “We are marking this milestone by refreshing our logo and website. While 18% of those who access our services are blind, 82% have some useful vision. The new logo is a shaded eye, which represents the full spectrum of sight loss from low vision to completely blind,” said Des Kenny, Chief Executive of NCBI.

Unveiling the organisation’s new website www.ncbi.ie, the Minister highlighted the value of accessible design. “The internet is not only an information tool, it has the potential to break down barriers to information and communication that have excluded people with vision impairments.”

The theme of World Sight Day 2006, which is celebrated internationally on 12th October, is low vision, promoting public and professional awareness of issues around low vision and the need for collaboration between government, health professionals, the public and organisations like NCBI in the battle to eliminate avoidable sight loss and to provide support to people experiencing difficulties with their eyesight.

For more information contact Eoin Dardis on 086 8077759.

Notes to Editors

• NCBI is a not for profit charitable organisation which offers support and services nationwide to those experiencing difficulties with their eyesight.

• 2006 is NCBI’s 75th anniversary year, having been established in 1931 to promote the physical, economic and social independence of people living with vision impairments.

• NCBI provides a range of services to 10,000 people experiencing difficulty with their eyesight in Ireland.

• The new logo is an image of a shaded eye, a symbol that reflects the spectrum of sight loss, from low vision to completely blind. NCBI’s old logo, the lantern, was first introduced in 1952 to represent light in a world of darkness.

• NCBI’s new website will provide information about the services NCBI provides to people living with sight loss, as well as information for people who want to know more about sight loss and independent living.

• Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is considered to be the main cause of sight loss in people over the age of 55 in the European Union. The latest study of the blind register in Ireland shows a dramatic rise in the number of registrations due to AMD. Between 1996 and 2003 there was an increase of 113% in people being diagnosed with the condition.

• Diabetic retinopathy rose from the 11th most common cause of blindness in 1996 to the fifth in 2003. The condition is the second most common among working adults aged between 16 and 64.