Even if you just keep your eyes shut for five minutes, you will soon realise how important it is to take care of your sight. Just think about all the things that you’d never see again if you were to lose your sight…
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RINB) says that as we get older, we are increasingly likely to suffer from sight loss. With many people regularly having to strain their eyes, whether it’s staring at a computer screen at work or watching television at home, the number of people who have eye problems is expected to increase dramatically. By 2050 the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to nearly four million. (Access Economics, 2009).
However there are things that you can do to try and vision problems. The RINB advise:
1. Have a regular eye test at an optician’s. Early detection means more chance of successful treatment.
2. Don’t smoke. It greatly increases the risk of certain eye conditions.
3. Eat healthily. Include lots of green leafy vegetables in your diet to maintain eye health.
4. Keep trim. Obesity is linked to diabetes and AMD, so stay trim to avoid sight problems.
5. Always wear sunglasses with a UV filter.
If you or someone you know has a sight problem, RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit http://www.rnib.org.uk.
