A new report by the charity think tank and consultancy NPC
has found that, while visual impairment will affect around four million people
by 2050, eye care services in the UK are stretched and people are not thinking
about their eye health. The direct and indirect cost of eye disease and sight
loss in the UK is estimated at almost £8 billion and yet reported spend on eye
research in the UK is £30 million per year (equivalent to just £83 for each
person registered as blind or partially sighted). In contrast, the UK mascara
market is worth £130 million per year.
Sight tests are free for people over 60, but less than half
of those eligible take advantage of this, and fear of the cost of purchasing
glasses is one of the key barriers to people accessing eye care, particularly
for those with low incomes.
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