Parents and childminders are being reminded of the importance of keeping liquid detergent capsules out of children’s reach. Also known as liquitabs, these products are made up of concentrated liquid detergent within a soluble package which breaks down after coming into contact with water. They can be extremely dangerous in the hands of small children.
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Doctors are urging people to take proper care of their eyes during Friday’s solar eclipse, which will see most of northern Europe, including Ireland, fading into near darkness for several minutes. A solar eclipse is a rare event during which the moon covers the sun. People in Ireland will not be able to view the
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Over 224,000 people in Ireland are affected by conditions that cause vision loss and this figure is expected to reach 275,000 by 2020, Fighting Blindness has warned. The sight loss charity has launched a new patient guide to support people who have been diagnosed with retinal conditions. The aim of the guide is to ‘cut
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People with diabetes are being urged to attend regular eye screening that is offered to them free of charge as part of Diabetic RetinaScreen, the National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme. According to Diabetes Ireland, the national charity for people with the condition, one person with diabetes goes blind in Ireland every week as a result
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Around 100,000 people worldwide undergo a cornea transplant every year. Now researchers based in Galway have made a breakthrough which could reduce the risk of patients rejecting this type of transplant. Corneal eye disease is the fourth most common cause of blindness globally, affecting over 10 million people. Problems with the cornea can cause glare
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The leading cause of blindness in Irish people over the age of 50 continues to be the eye disease AMD. However many people affected are not even aware they have it The warning comes ahead of AMD Awareness Week 2014, which runs from September 15-21. This year’s campaign – ‘Begin Your New Chapter’ – is
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Half of people in Ireland have not had an eye test in the past two years – the recommended maximum interval between eye tests, according to new research. The survey also reveals that one in five have never had a sight test at all, rising to over 36% of those under the age of 35.
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People with diabetes can reduce their risk of developing vision problems if they consume a healthy and balanced diet, according to a new campaign. The Eye Am What I Eat campaign is aiming to raise awareness of diabetic macular edema (DME), a form of diabetic retinopathy that can lead to significant loss of vision. Diabetic
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Most people are aware that fair skin can be more vulnerable to skin cancer. However, did you know that light coloured eyes are more vulnerable to UV-related eye disease? The Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) is appealing to people to ‘shop smart’ when purchasing sunglasses by only opting for those with the CE Mark (European
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A new smartphone app allows people to see what the world would look like if they had the serious eye disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD affects central vision, making it blurry. Central vision is necessary for everyday activities such as reading, driving and watching television. Currently, around 22,000 people in Ireland are living with
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Hygiene deficits have been discovered in an inspection  of Dublin’s Coombe maternity hospital by the health safety body HIQA. HIQA has said the Coombe must now revise and amend its quality improvement plan (QIP) to prioritise the improvements necessary to fully comply with infection, prevention and control standards. A HIQA inspection report on the hospital
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Irish scientists have made a major breakthrough in relation to a disease which is one of the most common causes of blindness in Ireland. AMD (age-related macular degeneration) affects central vision, making it blurry. Central vision is necessary for everyday activities such as reading, driving and watching television. The condition affects one in 10 people
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Over 220,000 people in Ireland are blind or visially impaired and this figure is expected to jump by 20% by 2020, the National Vision Coalition has warned. It is calling for the immediate implementation of a national vision strategy in an attempt to reduce this figure and save the healthcare system millions of euro. Figures
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