Cancelled eye surgeries during lockdown

A survey by eye research charity Fight for Sight has found that 4 out of 10 people with sight loss fear their sight will further deteriorate during the Covid-19 pandemic, as they struggle to access treatment for their eye conditions.

In the survey of those with sight loss and eye conditions, 73 per cent of respondents said their access to treatment has gotten worse during the pandemic, with some reporting cancelled surgeries, as well as cancelled injections for age-related macular degeneration.

One in four respondents also reported finding it difficult to follow social distancing rules as a result of their eye condition, while more than half said their access to food and other products has gotten worse during the pandemic, including access to food deliveries. This has been made more difficult by the fact that blind and partially sighted people are not being classed as a vulnerable group, and therefore are not given priority delivery slots.

Aston spoke to Sherine Krausem, CEO at Fight For Sight to discuss the research in further and also offered advice.