Benefit of eyecare cash boost there for all to see

"RNIB Scotland was delighted with this week's eyecare announcement by Health Minister Shona Robison. The extra investment totals more than £10 million and will significantly improve the provision of eyecare services across Scotland. At the moment, one in eight people over 70 have sight loss, and the number of Scots with serious eye conditions is due to double over the next 20 years with problems such as glaucoma, Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), cataracts and diabetic retinopathy becoming ever more common. Click here to find out more! Following the introduction of free eye examinations by the previous Scottish Executive, there has been a 64 per cent increase in the uptake of eye examinations. A staggering 2000 people a month are now being referred for potentially sight-saving treatment by medical experts. The Scottish Government's £10m investment in new equipment and new services will make a real difference to the prevention of avoidable sight loss and quality of service for those with sight loss across Scotland and the Lothians. In the Lothians, substantial money will be spent on hi-tech digital cameras for high street optometrists. This will result in the earlier identification of sight problems, earlier referral to medical experts and a reduction in avoidable sight loss. The extra fu"