Students from Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College will enter a virtual ageing booth to see how they could look when they get older and learn how they can reduce their risk of becoming blind later in life.
Avoiding sight loss
With the aim of encouraging students to help make avoidable sight loss a thing of the past, The Royal National Institute of Blind People's (RNIB) UK wide Future Vision tour reaches West London.
RNIB says there are 1.8 million people with sight loss in the UK - fifty per cent of whom having lost their sight unnecessarily. If caught early sight loss for many people is avoidable. To minimise the risk of acquiring serious sight disease later in life, the key is not to smoke and have regular eye tests.
Focus on younger people
Eye Health Manager at RNIB, Barbara McLaughlan said: "Our focus is on younger people because we want to show them, in a very tangible way, how their lifestyle choices may affect their risk of developing eye disease in later life. RNIB's Future Vision tour shows our commitment to making avoidable sight loss a thing of the past."
RNIB is inviting 16 to 25 year old students from the college to enter its 'Future Vision' virtual ageing photo booth that simulates how they might look when they reach 70.
Based on what the students say about their current lifestyle choices, they can learn about avoiding risk factors linked to eye disease. On leaving the booth, they can take away a simulated photograph of themselves age 70 along with eye health information. They can also download their picture from www.fvision.org.uk.
Smoking and sight loss
The link between smoking and sight loss is currently under-publicised despite it being as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer.
A survey conducted by RNIB showed that in the UK, 73 per cent of smokers aged 18-24 would consider stopping smoking permanently or reducing smoking to avoid blindness in later life.
Ealing Hammersmith and West London College discussed effective ways of reducing smoking and wants to help its students to better understand the risks attached to their eye health due to smoking.
Partnership
Paula Whittle, Principal from the College said: "We are pleased to be working alongside the RNIB to highlight the inter-linked dangers of smoking and sight loss. We want to make sure that our students experience an holistic approach to education so that they are informed about key issues that may affect them throughout their lives."
Barbara McLaughlin added: "Ultimately it's up to all of us to take the necessary steps to maximise our chances of keeping our eyes healthy into old age. Fifty per cent of all sight loss if tackled early enough is avoidable. If younger people are prepared to take their own eye health seriously, they stand a far better chance of not adding to the 1.8 million people who currently live with sight loss in the UK. Not smoking is as important as having regular eye tests."
The booth that was designed by Hartnell Creative Communication Ltd will be visiting a further 8 UK college venues including some major shopping centres.
For more media information contact Bill Alker, RNIB Press Office 020 7391 2223. Out of hours mobile 07968 482812.
Notes to Editors.
1. The media are invited to the event that takes place on Monday 18 January in the Student Common Room from 11am to 12.30. At Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College (Southall campus), Beaconsfield Road, Southall, UB1 1DP. College contact is Liz Adams 020 7565 1359.
2. Students using the booth and a spokesperson from RNIB and the college will be available for further comment.
3. Everyday around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight but only around 8 receive any counselling.
///end of message///