NHS Tayside Supports World Sight Day

WEDNESDAY, 11 OCTOBER, 2017

NHS Tayside supports World Sight Day

NHS Tayside is supporting World Sight Day on Thursday, 12 October by hosting a stand at Ninewells Hospital providing information to people experiencing problems with their eyesight.

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. This year’s theme is ‘Make Vision Count’ which draws attention to the fact that 80% of the world’s population that are blind are avoidably so.

The key message behind this year’s World Sight Day’s theme is to encourage members of the public to think of their own eye health but also to be aware of those around them, including children, older people and those living with health conditions that can affect eyesight, such as diabetes. A simple action that can help to ensure the health of your eyes and avoid visual impairment is to visit an optician for a free routine eye test every two years.

Lorna Donnelly, NHS Tayside Vision and Hearing Support Officer, said, “NHS Tayside is promoting World Sight Day in partnership with local organisations. Today’s event highlights the many organisations and sources of support that are available to offer support to people having problems with their eyesight.”

Visitors, staff and patients visiting the hospital are invited to stop by the stand on the concourse between 10am and 4pm where they can find out information on the local services available as well as the various charities and organisations that provide support for people who are experiencing problems with their eyesight.

The information stand will be hosted by representatives from the Royal National Institute of Blind People, My Guide Ambassador and The Macular Society who will be joined by staff from NHS Tayside’s Clinical Governance and Risk Management team.

Throughout the day there will be also be an opportunity to try wearing a pair of simulator glasses which mimic different types of visual impairment and hear about the various aids and how technology can support people with visual impairment.

Contact:

Anna Michie

NHS Tayside Communications

01382 4242138

11 October 2017