MP praises merit of regular eye-testing (From Ledbury Reporter)

MP praises merit of regular eye-testing

9:00am Sunday 28th October 2012 in Ledbury

LEDBURY’S MP Bill Wiggin is urging people to look after their sight after paying a visit to a futuristic sight-loss simulator.

Using a special simulator pod belonging to the Royal National Institute of Blind People he experienced a variety of common sightloss conditions.

The number of people with sight loss in the UK is expected to double to almost four million by 2050, meaning as many as 6,000 people could be affected in North Herefordshire.

However up to half of sight loss cases could be avoided if detected and treated early enough.

“It is vital people do not take their sight for granted, because sight loss can be avoided if problems are detected early,” Mr Wiggin said. “Using the simulator to get an idea of the problems people with these common sight conditions face really emphasised the importance of people having eye checks at least every two years.”