The main focus of our recent EU work to eliminate needless or avoidable sight loss is RNIB's major smoking and blindness campaign.
Smokers are more than twice as likely to develop AMD (Age-related macular degeneration) as non-smokers. As this is the main cause of blindness in the EU, RNIB feels that it is an issue that must be tackled.
The existing warnings printed on tobacco packaging, eg "smoking can kill", are governed by EU legislation. We are therefore lobbying at EU-level to add a warning about the link between smoking and blindness to the list. New warnings, especially if combined with pictures and a helpline number on each cigarette packet, are essential to ensure that smokers continue to respond to the messages.
In October 2007, the European Parliament adopted an amendment highlighting the link between smoking and blindness and calling for a revision of the list of warnings of tobacco products.
The European Commission is currently reviewing this list so we are campaigning to include a new warning on the link between smoking and blindness.
Find out what happend at World No Tobacco Day 2006
Future Vision Tour
The Future Vision Tour lauched in 2009 aims to reach young people aged 16-25 with a message on the links between smoking and sight loss. Targeting colleges across the country, the Future Vision pod contained two virtual aging booths which produced 'before' and 'after' photos showing the student today and at age 70. Students took these images away with them together with information about the risk factors for eye disease and the importance of regular eye tests
Find out when we are in your area