John Baron MP pledges support for RNIB’s SOS campaign

John (l) with Steve Winyard

MP hosts and speaks at Parliamentary reception for campaign launch

As Co-Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment, John Baron MP hosted and spoke at the RNIB’s Parliamentary reception where it launched its new eye health campaign Save our Sight (SOS).

There are around two million people in the UK with sight problems and the number of people at risk of the main causes of blindness – cataract, glaucoma, wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic eye disease – is set to increase by up to 25 per cent in the decade leading up to 2020. However, 50 per cent of sight loss is avoidable and RNIB’s SOS campaign aims to tackle the timebomb of unnecessary sight loss and promote the importance of timely access to vital treatment.

In addressing the launch, John said,

“It is simply not good enough that half of all sight loss is avoidable. Many thousands of people have gone blind unnecessarily either because of late diagnosis or poor access to treatments.”

“Furthermore, the cost to the taxpayer for this failure is much greater than the investment required to put it right. This is why the RNIB’s SOS campaign is so important.”

Steve Winyard, Head of Campaigns at RNIB, said,

“RNIB thanks John and welcomes his support . Our SOS campaign aims to challenge unnecessary sight loss, to promote the importance of regular eye checks and also to highlight those areas where timely access to treatment and monitoring has saved the sight of those previously at risk of blindness.”