A FIVE-YEAR strategy to address the country's sight loss "time-bomb" is to be launched in the Capital.
The Scottish Vision Strategy, unveiled at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh today, is aimed at increasing awareness of how eye disease can impact on a person's sight.
The launch comes as the Edinburgh-based Royal National Institute of Blind Peo
ple revealed its startling prediction that the number of people in Scotland with visual impairment will double.
John Legg, director of RNIB Scotland, said: "The Scottish Vision Strategy signals our determination to work together to make a real and lasting difference to eye-health and to improve the lives of those who have lost some or all of their sight.
"We have here a real opportunity to secure world class services over the next five years."
International research has shown there is a four-fold return on investment in early eye-care intervention."
It is understood an increasing population, as well as the country's high instance of diabetes, obesity, smoking and poor health will contribute to the 400,000 people who will suffer some form of blindness.
Health minister Shona Robison added: "Too many people in Scotland are still not fully aware of the impact their lifestyles and health conditions can have on their sight."
The full article contains 219 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
