Mr. Chris White:

I am delighted to be here this morning and I thank the committee for the opportunity. As Ireland’s national sight loss agency, Vision Ireland, which is the new name for the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, NCBI, welcomes the opportunity to present to the Joint Committee on Health on the measures we feel are needed to improve health services and supports for people who are blind or vision impaired and specifically on why Ireland critically needs a national vision strategy for the better management of our nation's eye health.

As we navigate the complexities of healthcare - and we are all well aware that it is a complex subject - it is imperative that the committee considers every facet of health and well-being, including often overlooked areas such as eye health and the resulting impact on the quality of life of the 296,000 people with sight loss in Ireland.

Our eyesight is central to how we experience the world, yet vision impairment and blindness remain a significant public health concern, now affecting, as I have just said, 296,601 citizens of the State. Alongside an ageing population, this is an increasing challenge for our healthcare and rehabilitation system and services. Waitlists for ophthalmology outpatient appointments and inpatient procedures continue to remain among the longest in the Irish healthcare system, with heavy reliance on the acute care systems for diagnosis and treatment.

In a country where vision impairment and blindness can profoundly impact an individual's independence, livelihood and quality of life, it is incumbent upon Vision Ireland and the committee to take proactive measures before it is too late. Today, Vision Ireland is stressing the critical need for a national eye health strategy, that is, a comprehensive framework designed to safeguard and promote the eye health of every citizen in this country. We consider that such a strategy is not a luxury but a fundamental necessity for ensuring equitable and timely access to quality eye care and vision rehabilitation, while also preventing avoidable blindness and enhancing the overall health and productivity of our population.

A national vision strategy serves as a roadmap for action, guiding policymakers, healthcare providers and stakeholders in aligning resources, implementing evidence-based interventions and fostering collaboration to tackle the multifaceted challenges of eye health. By investing in prevention, early detection, timely treatment and vision rehabilitation, which is very much in line with Sláintecare, we can mitigate the personal, social, and economic costs associated with vision impairment and blindness.

The time has come for us to prioritise eye health on a national agenda and commit ourselves to the development and implementation of a robust, inclusive, and sustainable national vision strategy in the next programme for Government. By doing so, we not only are safeguarding the sense we all fear losing the most, but also uphold our collective responsibility to promote health and well-being for all.