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Actress Leigh Arnold launches Sightsavers’ Easter campaign. © Leon Farrell, Photocall Ireland

Actress Leigh Arnold launches Sightsavers’ Easter campaign. © Leon Farrell, Photocall Ireland

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Survey Reveals Irish Attitudes to Blindness

April 2010

In a survey released today, 94% of Irish people said out of all their senses they would fear losing their sight the most and 75% said losing their independence would be their biggest fear if they were blind. The survey was undertaken by Sightsavers Ireland to launch its Easter campaign and promote the fact that 80% of all blindness around the world is avoidable.  Irish celebrities including Leigh Arnold, Imelda May, Niall Quinn and Mary Black joined the campaign entitled ’Being blind is hard. Being blind in Africa is harder.’ by sharing what they would miss most if they lost their sight.  View survey results here.

 ‘I was born visually impaired in my left eye as a baby and throughout my childhood had a number of different operations to try to regain the sight in the eye. I was lucky to have a great family, wonderful health system and incredible doctors to help me as a little girl. To this day I am still visually impaired in the eye but thanks to the help I got as a little girl, life is in no way hindered.

The thought of loosing sight completely has therefore been something I have considered a lot over the years and I think what I would miss the most is actually seeing my loved ones. To not be able to look into their eyes and their souls would be heartbreaking.’  Said Leigh Arnold.  Read more celebrity quotes here.

Commenting on the findings of the survey, John Fleming, CEO of Sightsavers Ireland said “The responses we received illustrate just how precious sight is to all of us. Loss of sight is a dramatically life-changing experience for anyone and even more so for those living in poverty in Africa where often people’s main focus is on survival and where blindness can lead to isolation, neglect, loss of livelihood and deepening poverty.

However blindness is avoidable in 80% of cases worldwide and can be prevented or treated for very small amounts of money. As little as €20 could fund an adult cataract operation and save their sight, while just 5 cent can protect a child against river blindness for an entire year. The hardship caused by unnecessary blindness is something we want people to think about and is the focus of our current campaign titled “Being blind is hard. Being blind in Africa is harder,” John added