The National Council for the Blind (NCBI) recorded its busiest year ever in 2018, helping over 6,000 people nationwide. The NCBI provides support, rehabilitation services and other training to help people with sight loss to live independently and confidently. It has just launched its 2018 Annual Report, which shows that last year, it helped 6,392
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Scientists at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) have made an important breakthrough in relation to age-related macular degeneration, which is the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50 in Ireland. Over 7,000 people are newly diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) every year in this country. It is a painless
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The average waiting time for cataract surgery in Ireland is almost two-and-a-half years, with some people having to wait up to five years, a new survey has revealed. The survey by the Association of Optometrists (AOI) looked at public and private waiting times for cataract surgery in constituencies nationwide and found that the average wait
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A new EU-funded project led by the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is hoping to improve treatments available to people with certain eye diseases. The project, ORBITAL, is focusing on diseases of the back of the eye, such as diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the most common cause of vision
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Researchers in Belfast have discovered a new way of treating major eye diseases, which currently threaten the sight of millions of people worldwide. Their findings focus on eye diseases that are caused by the abnormal growth of new blood vessels, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is hoped that this research will
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Over 41,000 people were waiting for eye care outpatient appointments at the end of December 2018, with almost 40% of these having already been waiting for at least one year. According to the figures released by the Association of Optometrists (AOI), 41,600 people were waiting for outpatient appointments at the end of last year, up
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People over the age of 40 are being encouraged to attend regular eye tests, so that any age-related issues can be diagnosed early and dealt with. According to the findings of a survey carried out on behalf of Vision Express, 81% of people noticed a deterioration in their eyesight when they reached an average age
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Over 7,000 people are newly diagnosed with the eye condition, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), every year in Ireland, and it remains the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50 here, a leading charity has warned. AMD is a painless condition that affects a tiny part of the retina called
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The HSE is reminding all people with diabetes who are over the age of 12, that they can avail of free retinal screening. Diabetic RetinaScreen is the HSE’s National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme – it offers free annual screening for diabetic retinopathy, which is a common complication of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the
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With Halloween fast approaching, people are being warned not to use cosmetic or ‘fun’ contact lenses as part of their costumes. According to the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI), in recent years, an increasing number of people have been purchasing seasonal or fun contact lenses online or from pop-up costume shops. However, the sale of
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People affected by sight loss have the opportunity to meet with eye experts to hear firsthand about the latest developments and innovations in this area. The national charity, Fighting Blindness, has just announced details of its annual conference, Retina 2018. This three-day conference will include a Public Engagement Day on October 6, which will involve
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Ireland’s eye care services are in need of major reform if they are to keep up with the demands placed on them by an increasing and ageing population, experts have warned. The latest waiting list figures show that at the end of August, there were 41,600 people waiting for outpatient eye care appointments, up from
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the number one cause of sight loss among people over the age of 50 in Ireland, however symptoms of the condition often go unrecognised, experts have warned. AMD affects central vision, making it blurry. Central vision is necessary for everyday activities such as reading, driving and watching television. Over 100,000
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