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.
Virtual ageing booth
Students from Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College's Southall campus entered a virtual ageing booth to see what they could look when they get older and learn how they can reduce their risk of becoming blind later in life.
Avoidable sight loss
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.
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."
Future Vision
RNIB invited 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 said about their current lifestyle choices, they learnt about avoiding risk factors linked to eye disease. On leaving the booth, they were invited to take away a simulated photograph of themselves aged 70 along with eye health information. They can also download their picture from fvision.org.uk.
Speaking about the event, Student Union member Prablin Arura said "We didn't know that smoking could affect your eyesight - we knew about cancer and heart disease though. I think it's good that our college and RNIB are working together to get the message across to young people before it's too late. I don't smoke but I know a lot of people my age and younger do so I'm glad this event is happening on campus."
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 it's students to better understand the risks attached to their eye health due to smoking.
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."
Virendra Sharma, MP
Virendra Sharma, MP for Southall and Ealing said "It's very important that young people are made aware of the short and long term effects of smoking. It's vital that organisations work together to get the message across to young people and I'm pleased to support the RNIB and the college to help them to raise awareness."
The booth that was designed by Hartnell Creative Communication Ltd will be visiting a further 8 UK college venues including other major shopping centres.
For more media information contact Graham Sefton or Bill Alker RNIB Press Office 020 7391 2223. Out of hours mobile 07968 482812.
Notes to Editors.
1. The event took place at Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College (Southall campus, Beaconsfield Road, Southall, UB1 1DP) on January 20, 2010. It will remain at this site until Friday January 22, 2010.
2. Everyday around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight but only around 8 receive any counselling.