The number of people living with sight loss in the UK could rise by more than a quarter in just over a 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.
The proportion of people in the UK with severe sight loss or blindness is expected to rise by 29%, from 298,000 in 2022 to 379,000 in 2035, according to the figures.
One of the main drivers of the jump is people living longer, although 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 in 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 having an eye test every two years.
Matt Stringer, chief executive of the RNIB, said: “Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of common vision conditions are key to reducing the number of people who will experience vision loss in their lifetime.”
‘Regular eye tests are crucial to preventing avoidable vision loss. They are essential for everyone, even if you think your vision is fine, as many conditions that can be detected in a routine eye exam start without obvious symptoms and vision conditions can often be treated if caught early.
‘In addition to eye health, an eye exam can detect other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, risk of stroke and heart disease.
“In addition to calling on the UK public to have regular eye tests every two years, the RNIB is calling on the UK government to develop and implement a national eye care plan to address delays in eye care and stop eye loss. avoidable vision”.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by high blood sugar levels that damage the back of the eye (retina).
It can cause blindness if undiagnosed and untreated.