Blind woman in Norfolk says more support is needed to help with sight loss
A charity is predicting a 29% rise in severe sight loss cases within the next 11 years
Last updated 10th Oct 2024
A woman from Norfolk who's visually impaired is telling us that local authorities need more funding and support to help people deal with sight loss.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is warning that 2.8 million people in the UK will be living with sight loss by 2035 - that's an increase of over a quarter on current figures.
"I face constant battles on this, all the time"
Rachael Andrews is from Norwich and lost her sight in the 90s: "It was a long time ago when I became visually impaired.
"But the wait then was quite a long time to get any support and it's even worse now. When you're first hearing this news and coming to terms with it, your mental state is really low.
"There are people out there who will make you feel less alone. It's hard but it's not the end of the world - so reach out to people in your local community and you will find help."
She says she faces daily struggles:
"There are laws that protect my right to information, but the systems that help deliver that are not very good, so it means that I face constant battles on this, all the time."
A closer look at the details:
The RNIB say this increase is being driven by an ageing population and rising health conditions like diabetes.
With waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, likely to exacerbate the problem further.
They predict they'll be a 29% rise in severe sight loss cases, with the charity is urging everyone to attend regular eye tests.
RNIB emphasizes that early diagnosis of eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, is critical to preventing avoidable sight loss.
The charity is calling for the Government to introduce a National Eye Health Plan to address these challenges.
What's the Government said on this?
Labour said before the election that it would work with local areas to create plans to support more disabled people into work.