4 Out Of 5 Cases Of Blindness 'Preventable' – FG

Fine Gael are today launching a Private Members Motion that calls for the establishment of a national vision strategy.

Brought forward by Clare Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Disability and Equality, Martin Conway, it is said that four out of five cases of blindness are preventable.

Urging Senators to support the motion, Mr Conway said: "I am urging my Seanad colleagues to support this vital Private Members Motion, which is calling on the Government to implement a national vision strategy.

"This month, another 20 people in Ireland will go blind. As someone who has had a severe vision impairment since I was a child, I fully understand how sight problems can profoundly affect one's life. If we have a real chance to reduce blindness and vision impairment, we should grab it with both hands.

"The National Vision Coalition, an alliance of professionals working in the sight loss community, is highlighting the following facts about blindness:

• 75-80% of blindness is preventable

• Up to €76m could be saved annually if earlier intervention is prioritised

• More than 220,000 people in Ireland are blind or vision impaired

• The level of blindness is expected to increase by a fifth by 2020.

"I am urging the Government to act now to ensure that cost-effective measures to prevent blindness are implemented to prevent a further 260 people per year becoming blind in Ireland. A vision strategy would provide us with a detailed blueprint for the strategic development of eye health and support care.

"I am greatly encouraged that the issues concerning sight loss highlighted in this motion will be debated in the Seanad this week and I believe if we harness this support we can prevent hundreds of people from going blind in Ireland in the years ahead."

(MH/JP)