Save Our Sight this August

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB)
Media Release
3 August 2007

Save Our Sight this August

This August is Save Our Sight month, and serves as a reminder that while you can’t prevent certain vision loss, you can still save your existing eyesight by having regular eye checks.

Save Our Sight month focuses on detecting vision problems at an early stage, and promoting eye health and safety. It is organised by the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, and is supported by the RNZFB.

“Having your eyes examined by a trained professional on a regular basis means that most conditions affecting your sight can be diagnosed early on, and treated accordingly. It also allows you to preserve what vision you do have,” says Chris Inglis, RNZFB Divisional Manager, Technology Employment and Awareness.

Approximately 20% of blindness is preventable in New Zealand, making it important to have a comprehensive eye examination at least every five years before the age of 40, every two years after the age of 40, and more often where there is a known condition or family history of vision impairment or blindness.

Some eye diseases and conditions that you can become susceptible to over time include:

- AMD or Age-Related Macular Degeneration is a degenerative disease of the macula, the tiny part of the retina responsible for our central or detailed vision. Those with AMD are left only with peripheral vision, making it difficult to read, drive and recognise people’s faces. Approximately half of the RNZFB’s members say they suffer from AMD.

- Diabetic retinopathy is a degenerative retinal eye condition that is a complication of diabetes. Having regular eye tests for this condition is especially important for those with diabetes, as it can go unnoticed in its early stages. Later, the condition can cause blood vessels in the retina to burst, or abnormal blood vessels to grow.

- Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases which cause pressure to build up inside your eye and result in damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma can be treated with medication or eye surgery, however vision loss caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed.

For more information on eye conditions or the RNZFB’s services, please phone 0800 24 33 33 or visit www.rnzfb.org.nz.

The RNZFB is the primary provider of vision-related rehabilitation services to 11,700 blind, deafblind and vision-impaired members. It costs approximately $22 million a year to deliver a wide range of member services, with just one-third of the funding coming from government sources.

ENDS

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