Stunell: "Don't wait till your eyes go a bit funny to get tested"
May 27, 2005 11:46 AM
This week Andrew Stunell MP joined the Royal National Institute for the Blind in Parliament to encourage people to get their eyes tested regularly, and to raise awareness of Glaucoma and blindness.
Andrew Stunell MP said:
"Glaucoma can lead to blindness if it is not treated, and is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the UK.
"I am concerned that everyone in Stockport gets their eyes tested at least every two years. This helps to ensure that conditions like glaucoma are detected at an early stage, so people can get treated.
"200,000 people nationally have lost their sight through glaucoma and we need to do more to raise public awareness of the condition.
"I support RNIB's campaign and wish them well with their national tour."
Steve Winyard, RNIB's Head of Public Policy, said:
"We are delighted that Andrew Stunell MP is supporting our campaign as it is hugely concerning that detection of glaucoma is so low and that so many people are needlessly losing their sight through what is essentially a treatable condition. That's why regular eye tests are so vital. An eye test can save your sight."
1. Andrew Stunell MP has backed a Parliamentary Motion to raise awareness of Glaucoma and sight loss. The text is:
That this House congratulates the Royal National Institute for the Blind on the launch of their national tour of 13 UK cities over the summer, raising the public's awareness of glaucoma and the need for a regular eye test; notes that if detected early enough through a routine eye examination glaucoma can be treated effectively; expresses its concern that many thousands of people across the UK have a sight problem due to the condition; and calls on the Government to increase publicity around the benefits that a regular eye test can have in detecting eye diseases such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, leading to early intervention and the saving of sight.
2. More details can be found at the RNIB's website:
http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/code/InternetHome.hcsp
A report published by RNIB shows a shocking lack of awareness of glaucoma with one in five people having never heard of the condition. Only two per cent of people aware of glaucoma knew it could lead to "tunnel vision" and just three per cent knew it could have no symptoms. Also less than one in five people knew that people with glaucoma or those specifically at risk were eligible for free eye tests.
3. Please call Jane Allen, 0207 2195223 for a copy of the photograph of Andrew Stunell at the campaign launch.
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