The number of people living with sight loss in the UK could rise by more than a quarter in little more than decade, a charity has warned.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) said its projections show that an estimated 2.8 million people will be living with sight loss by 2035, an increase of 27 per cent.
Within the figures, the proportion of people in the UK with severe sight loss or being registered blind is expected to rise by 29%, from 298,000 in 2022 to 379,000 in 2035.
One of the main drivers of the jump is people living for longer, though the RNIB said waiting times for diagnosis and treatment and an increase in the number of people living with diabetes are also factors.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) said its projections show that an estimated 2.8 million people will be living with sight loss by 2035, an increase of 27 per cent
It further predicted that, by 2050, the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to more than four million.
The charity now wants the Government to develop a national eye care plan but has said people can look after their health by going for an eye test every two years.
Matt Stringer, chief executive of the RNIB, said: ‘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.
‘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.’
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina).
It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated.
