World Sight Day Indicates Lack Of Concern In UK About Vision

Following October the 9th's World Sight Day, a research project carried out by Orbis indicates that over 9 in 10 UK adults didn't consider their sight to be the most important health concern in their lives. The vision charity noted that while many of us consider it to be the most important of our senses, vision was a distant worry behind the likes of cancer, heart conditions and mental issues.

Orbis International is a non profit organisation which focuses its time and resources into helping save peoples sight the world over. As well as offering treatments to curable diseases, especially in regions where technology and medicine is behind the rest of the world, the charity also looks to help prevent the loss of sight where it can. One of the most well known and publicised aspects of Orbis is its 'Flying Eye Hospital' which is a fully working and operational ophthalmic hospital and teaching unit, on board an aircraft.

Survey stats at a glance:

• 2000 adults surveyed in the research project
• 93% of those surveyed failed to list sight as their primary health concern
• 45% of those surveyed listed sight as their most important sense
• 80% of those surveyed know little about eye health and diseases
• 14% of those surveyed were unaware of how often to have their eyes tested
• 48% of those surveyed had their vision tested every two years

Orbis highlighted the lack of awareness as its main concern, acknowledging the fact that many of us simply don't consider the effect sight loss would have on our lives, with many taking it for granted. One particular aspect it felt many didn't consider was how it could transform our working lives and careers should we lose our vision, something that in developing countries in which it offers aid, could mean disastrous consequences which may not apply to us in our more privileged surroundings.

Due to a rising life expectancy, and increased numbers of sufferers of diabetes and obesity, it is expected that the volume of people at risk of sight loss will double to around 4 million by 2050.