There are more than a million people in the UK living with avoidable sight loss severe enough to have a significant impact on their daily lives – leaving them unable to do things such as drive. Take a look below at some examples of how your vision is affected. Slide the bar from side to side to see more or less of the affected version.
Macular Degeneration
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This impairs your central field of vision and is Britain’s leading cause of blindness affecting an estimated 600,000 people across the UK.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that affects the optic nerve and disturbs your peripheral vision. If left untreated it can lead to total loss of sight. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, rarely causes symptoms until it’s in an advanced stage. Hence why it’s known as the silent thief of sight.
Cataract
Cataracts cause your vision to become cloudy or misty. Twenty-six per cent of all cases of sight loss in people aged 75 and over is due to untreated cataracts. This is despite the fact that vision can usually be restored with a routine surgical procedure.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated.
