http://www.readingsight.org.uk/content/facts_about_sight_loss/ Reading Sight provides information and advice to library staff to help them provide a better service to people with sight loss en Reading Sight Copyright 2011 2011-09-21T21:25:24+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/facts_about_sight_loss/demographics_of_sight_loss/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/facts_about_sight_loss/demographics_of_sight_loss/#When:09:46:09Z Every day in the UK another 100 people start to lose their sight. The vast majority of people with sight problems are older people, aged 65 and over.Most older people with sight problems started to lose their sight later in life.About 2,000,000 (two million) people in the UK have significant sight loss.There are an estimated 25,000 children with sight problems in the UK, about 12,000 of these children also have other disabilities.Seventy percent of blind and partially sighted adults have other disabilities or long term health problems in addition to their sight loss.Over 50 per cent of all sight problems in older people are estimated to be due to untreated refractive error or cataracts.The prevalence of sight loss increases with age, and the UK population is ageing. In addition there is a growing incidence in key underlying causes of sight loss such as obesity and diabetes. This means, that without action, the numbers of people with sight problems in the UK are likely to increase dramatically over the next 25 years. 2009-05-29T09:46:09+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/facts_about_sight_loss/types_of_sight_loss/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/facts_about_sight_loss/types_of_sight_loss/#When:09:42:34Z “As the population ages and the incidence and prevalence in key underlying causes of sight loss increases, so sight loss is expected to become even more prevalent in the future” UK Vision StrategyThe major causes of sight loss in the UK are:Age related macular degeneration (AMD)CataractsDiabetic retinopathyGlaucomaOver 50 per cent of all sight problems in older people are estimated to be due to untreated refractive error or cataracts. Refractive error is the name for eye conditions where light is incorrectly focussed on the retina resulting in reduced vision. Sight loss can develop suddenly and severely or can develop gradually, normally the latter is the case. Department of Health figures show that over four million older people do not have regular eye tests, so their potential sight problems are not being identified or treated. We also let you know how these conditions can affect reading. However there is no way to know exactly how sight will be affected by an eye condition, the only way to know for sure is to ask. 2009-05-29T09:42:34+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/facts_about_sight_loss/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/facts_about_sight_loss/#When:10:33:40Z We want to make it easier for you to provide a great library service to people with sight loss. This section gives you a quick outline of the major causes of sight loss in the UK including key facts:About two million people in the UK have significant sight loss.Every day in the UK another 100 people start to lose their sight.Sight loss is most common in people over 65.We will include details of who is most affected by sight loss in the UK. We will concentrate on the major causes of sight loss. We will tell you about sight loss in children. 2009-03-26T10:33:40+00:00