Michael Connarty Campaigns On Issues Faced By People With Sight Loss

Michael Connarty MP and blind campaigners join up on issues faced by people with sight loss and is pictured with RNIB Parliamentary Officer John Dickinson-Lilley.

Michael Connarty MP met blind and partially sighted people Scotland and across the UK invited to meet the All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment of which he is an active member. The group works to raise UK Parliamentarians' awareness of issues affecting people with sight loss and campaigns for the prevention of sight loss.Optometrists allowed MPs to experience specialist equipment used in the workplace by people with sight loss. However, two thirds of blind and partially sighted people of working age are still not in paid employment.

Michael said "On average around 3,000 people in every UK parliamentary constituency have sight loss. The equipment available to diagnose sight problems has improved and every optometrist should have the latest equipment. The new equipment available to enable people with sight loss to live independently has improved since my mother had sight loss. Many people with sight loss could have assistance to take up a wide range of jobs, and it is important that local employers are aware of the government's Access to Work scheme. This can pay up to 100 per cent of costs associated with employing a disabled person. With this financial support in place, employers should have a positive attitude towards employing disabled people, knowing the support and advice they need is."

Michael was impressed with the latest Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a special scanner that creates a three dimensional image of the layers of the retina. This fast, non-invasive test can help with the detection and diagnosis of potentially sight threatening conditions like AMD and other retinal conditions like macular holes.

Michael concluded; "I would urge people who have not had their eyes tested recently to make it a priority. A sight test can pick up more than whether you need glasses or a new prescription- it could pick up serious problems with your eye health, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, which can lead to sight loss and ultimately being registered as sight impaired if not managed or treated promptly."