Facts - from Action for Blind People 2005

• Blindness and visual impairment affect one in sixty of the population. There are currently nearly 4000 registered blind and partially sighted people throughout Buckinghamshire, and this number is expected to rise.
• Sight loss affects all ages from newborn babies to elderly people. Its impact on day to day living can be huge.
• 140,000 partially sighted people of working age in the UK. Of these, 75% are unemployed.
• Around 80% of people who develop visual impairment whilst in work lose their job.
• 60% of older blind and partially sighted people never go out on their own.
• 20% of those over the age of 75 will not have left their home in the last week, or even been in their garden.
• 46% of blind and partially sighted people have given up hobbies and interests because of their sight loss.
• 100 people start to lose their sight every day in the UK.
• 90% of the public say sight is the sense they fear losing most.
• One in 12 will be blind or partially sighted by the age of 60. One in six by 75.