Ageing population
How many older people are living in the UK?
Over the last 25 years the percentage of the population aged 65 and over increased from 15 per cent in 1985 to 17 per cent in 2010, an increase of 1.7 million people. Over the same period, the percentage of the population aged under 16 decreased from 21 per cent to 19 per cent.
This trend is projected to continue. By 2035, 23 per cent of the population is projected to be aged 65 and over compared to 18 per cent aged under 16.
Source: Office of National Statistics.
The "oldest old" is the fastest growing age group in the UK
People aged 85 years or older are the fastest growing age group in the UK. In 1984 there were 660,000 people aged over 85. In 2009 this number had more than doubled to 1.4 million. This trend is set to continue, and by 2034 the number of people aged 85 or over will more than double again to 3.5 million.
Source: Office of National Statistics.
Living with sight loss
How many older people are living with sight loss in the UK?
We know that the number of people living with sight loss is increasing. Over the next decade it is predicted that numbers will increase to over 2.25 million. This increase is due to an ageing population.
The older you are, the more likely you are to be living with sight loss
One in every nine people aged over 60 are currently living with sight loss. Almost 14.1 million people in the UK are aged over 60 and at risk of sight loss (Indicator 4*). An increasing number of people are now living to later old age: over 1.4 million people in the UK are aged over 85 (Indicator 5*). One in every three people aged over 85 are currently living with sight loss.
Source: ONS (2011)
Whichever measure you use, older people are by far the largest group of people living with sight loss in the UK. Prevalence estimates - Of the almost 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK, over 80 per cent are aged over 60 and 45 per cent are aged over 80.
Registration
Around two-thirds of people registered as blind or partially sighted in England are aged 75 years or older.
Source: Prevalence estimates are from Access Economics, Future Sight Loss UK 1. Certification data is taken from official data published by Moorfields Eye Hospital. Registration data is taken from reports published by NHS Information Centre.
How many older people have sight loss and dementia in the UK?
At least 123,000 older people have both visual impairment and dementia (Indicator 8*). These people have complex needs, as visual impairment exacerbates confusion in Alzheimer's disease, which can also cause visual processing difficulties. As the population ages, the number of people with both dementia and sight loss will increase.
Source: RNIB estimates based on prevalence rates from Thomas Pocklington Trust (2007) and population estimates from ONS (2011).
Preventing avoidable sight loss
How many NHS Sight tests take place per year?
There were over 14.9 million NHS eye tests in the UK from April 2010 to March 2011 (Indicator 11*). This is an increase of one per cent on the previous year, and represents an additional 170,000 eye tests.
The rate of eye tests per 100,000 people in each UK country has also increased, in line with the growth in population. For example, in England there are now 23,000 NHS eye tests per 100,000 general population. This figure does not include significant numbers of people who have private eye tests. In Scotland, where NHS sight tests are available for free to the whole population, there are 34,600 NHS sight tests per 100,000 people.
Source: NHSIC (2011a), ISD (2011a), Welsh Government (2011a) and HSCNI (2012).
What was the number of new Certifications of Vision Impairment (CVIs) issued in 2009/10?
There were 24,238 Certificates of Vision Impairment (CVI) issued in 2009/10 (Indicator 12*). This is a decrease of five per cent on the number of CVIs issued in 2008 and 2009. Almost half of all CVIs were issued due to sight loss caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Source: RNIB (2012a)
Hospital care
How many people attend NHS outpatient ophthalmology appointments?
In England ophthalmology has the second highest number of outpatient attendances for any speciality in the NHS. In the UK there were 7.5 million outpatient ophthalmology appointments in 2010 and 2011 (Indicator 13*). Around 2.1 million of these attendances were patients attending their first appointment.
Source: NHSIC (2011b), Welsh Government (2011b), ISD (2011b) and DHSSPS (2011a).
More than half of new ophthalmology outpatients in England are aged 60 years and over.
Over 900,000 older people had an ophthalmology outpatient appointment for the first time in 2009/10.
Source: NHS Hospital Episode Statistics
More than 60 per cent of total attendances of ophthalmology outpatients appointments in England are for patients aged 60 years and over.
In 2009/10, there were 3.7 million ophthalmology outpatient attendances by older people in England.
Source: NHS Hospital Episode Statistics
What is the number of NHS inpatient ophthalmology appointments and day cases?
In the UK there were 728,000 inpatient or day case admissions related to ophthalmology in 2010 and 2011 (Indicator 14*).
Government targets require the time taken from initial referral to treatment to be no greater than 18 weeks. For ophthalmology referrals that result in a hospital admission, eight per cent of patients in England waited longer than this to start their treatment in 2011 (Indicator 15*).
Source: NHSIC (2011c)
Four out of every five ophthalmology inpatients are aged 60 years or over.
In 2009/10, there were 489,000 ophthalmology inpatient admissions by older people in England.
Source: NHS Hospital Episode Statistics
Treatments
What is the expenditure on Lucentis Injections?
In 2010 Lucentis, a proven treatment for wet AMD, was the fourth most costly drug prescribed across all areas of the NHS in England, with expenditure of £129 million (Indicator 16*).
Source: NHSIC (2011c)
What percentage of people who were offered diabetic retinopathy screening took part in the NHS retinal screening programme?
79 per cent of people who were offered diabetic retinopathy screening took part in the NHS retinal screening programme (Indicator 17*).
Source: NSC (2012), NHS Scotland (2011)
How many NHS cataract operations were performed in 2010/11?
Cataract surgery is the most common surgical intervention performed in the NHS in England and the average age of cataract patients is 75 years. In the UK there were approximately 400,000 NHS cataract operations in 2010 and 2011 (Indicator 18*). The NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare provides further information on cataract treatment and how much is spent on it by each Primary Care Trust.
Source: NHSIC (2011d) , NHS Wales (2011), ISD (2010), DHSSPS (2011b)
What is the total spend on Glaucoma prescriptions?
A total of £129 million was spent on glaucoma prescriptions in 2010 (Indicator 19*). This is an underestimate because it only includes prescriptions that were dispensed in the community, and does not include any prescription dispensed in hospitals. In total, glaucoma prescriptions represent around two-thirds of all expenditure on eye health prescriptions dispensed in the community.
Source: NHSIC (2011e), NWIS (2011), ISD (2011c), HSCNI (2011).
Supporting independent living
How many hospitals have some form of patient support in their eye clinics?
Being offered emotional and practical support at the time of diagnosis can help people who are experiencing sight loss to retain their independence and access the support they need. Currently we know that 199 hospitals in the UK have some kind of support in place for patients (Indicator 20*). Of this number, 106 hospitals in the UK offer support from a qualified Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (Indicator 21*).
Source: RNIB (2012b)
Do blind and partially sighted older people feel isolated?
Many blind and partially sighted people face social exclusion, isolation and neglect. 44 per cent of blind and partially sighted people report that they feel "moderately" or "completely" cut off from people and things around them (Indicator 23*).
Source: Pey, Nzegwu and Dooley (2006).
Isolation is a particularly high risk for blind and partially sighted older people.
Evidence suggests that the more severe someone's sight loss is, the higher the probability that they never leave their home. Almost half of people who report poor vision or blindness say that they "always" purposely limit the amount of walking they do outside the house (Indicator 24*). This compares to 12 per cent of people who report good or better vision who say that they always purposely limit the amount of walking they do outside the house.
Source: Gjonca and Nazroo (2005).
What percentage of older people living with sight loss are also living with depression?
There is a link between sight loss and reduced psychological wellbeing, particularly for older people.
Research indicates that around 35 per cent of older people with sight loss are also living with some form of depression (Indicator 25*).
Source: Hodge, Barr and Knox (2010).
How many blind and partially sighted people claim DLA or Attendance Allowance?
Around 70,000 blind and partially sighted people are claiming Disability Living Allowance (Indicator 27*).
Source: DWP (2012a)
Around 57,000 blind and partially sighted pensioners are claiming Attendance Allowance (Indicator 28*). It should be noted that with regard to both DLA and Attendance Allowance, there may be other people with sight loss who are getting these benefits but are recorded as living with a different disability, for example learning disability or hearing impairment.
Source: DWP (2012b)
How many older people live in residential care or nursing homes?
An estimated 410,000 older people in the UK are living in either residential care or a nursing home (Indicator 30*). Most of this group are over the age of 85 and have additional disabilities: three-quarters have a "severe disability" and around two-thirds have dementia and around one-third have sight loss.
Source: Blood (2010)
Sight loss UK 2012
The evidence provided on this page is taken from Sight loss UK 2012 report. You can download the full Sight loss UK 2012 report on the RNIB research pages which includes further information and useful statistics in relation to independent travel, shopping and money, reading, television and technology.
For further information on the latest research by RNIB in relation to prevention of sight loss, early reach, person centred support and issues involved in creating an inclusive society, visit the RNIB research pages.
References
* Indicators are taken from Sight Loss UK 2012.
Access Economics (2009) Future Sight Loss UK 1: The economic impact of partial sight and blindness in the UK adult population. RNIB. Full report available at: www.rnib.org.uk/research
Blood I (2010) Older people with high support needs: how can we empower them to enjoy a better life. Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Full report available at: www.jrf.org.uk/publications
DHSSPS (2011a) Northern Ireland Hospital Statistics: Outpatient Activity Statistics, 2010-11. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Full report available at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/stats_research
DHSSPS (2011b) Northern Ireland Hospital Statistics: Episode based activity, headline summary. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Full report available at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/stats_research
DWP (2012a) Benefit claimants (Disability Living Allowance, 5 percent sample data). Accessed via Nomis - www.nomisweb.co.uk Department of Work and Pensions.
DWP (2012b) Benefit claimants (Attendance Allowance, 5 per cent sample data). Accessed via Nomis - www.nomisweb.co.uk Department of Work and Pensions.
Gjonça E and Nazroo J (2005) An investigation of the circumstances of older people with sight loss: Analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Thomas Pocklington Trust. Full report available at: www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/research
Health and Social Care Information Centre. Full report available at: www.hesonline.nhs.uk
Hodge S, Barr W and Knox P (2010) Evaluation of Emotional Support and Counselling within an Integrated Low Vision Service. University of Liverpool. Full report available at: www.rnib.org.uk/research
HSCNI (2012) Data on eye tests in Northern Ireland provided by email from Information and Registration Unit, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland.
ISD (2010) Inpatient and Day Case Activity: headline summary.
Information Services Division, Scotland. Full report available at: www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics
ISD (2011a) General Ophthalmic Services: Activity in Scotland, Year ending 31 March 2011. Information Services Division, Scotland. Full report available at: www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics
ISD (2011b) Outpatient activity, annual summary. Information Services Division, Scotland. Full report available at: www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics
ISD (2011c) Prescription Cost Analysis, Scotland, 2010/11.
Information Services Division, Scotland.
Full report available at: www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics
NHS Scotland (2011) Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Programme: Annual Report, 2010/11. NHS Scotland. Full report available at: www.ndrs.scot.nhs.uk
NHS Wales (2011) Patient Episode Database for Wales - 2010/11: Headline summary. NHS Wales. Full report available at: www.infoandstats.wales.nhs.uk
NHSIC (2011a) General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England, Year ending 31 March 2011. Health and Social Care Information Centre. Full report available at: www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections
NHSIC (2011b) Hospital Episode Statistics: Outpatient, treatment specialty by attendance type: England, 2010/11.
NHSIC (2011c) Hospital prescribing: England 2010. Health and Social Care Information Centre. Full report available at: www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections
NHSIC (2011d) Hospital Episode Statistics: Inpatient, headline summary, 2010/11. Health and Social Care Information Centre. Full report available at: www.hesonline.nhs.uk
NHSIC (2011e) Prescription Costs Analysis: England, 2010.
Health and Social Care Information Centre. Full report available at: www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections
NSC (2012) English National Screening Programme for Diabetic Retinopathy: Annual Report, 2010/11. UK National Screening Committee. Full report available at: www.diabeticeye.screening.nhs.uk
HSCNI (2011) Prescription Cost Analysis, Northern Ireland, 2010.
Health and Social Care, Business Services Organisation. Full report available at: www.hscbusiness.hscni.net
NWIS (2011) Prescription Cost Analysis: Wales, 2010.
NHS Wales Informatics Service. Full report available at: www.wales.nhs.uk
ONS (2011) Mid-year population estimates, 2010. Office for National Statistics.
Full report available at: www.ons.gov.uk
Pey T, Nzegwu F and Dooley G (2006) Functionality and the Needs of Blind and Partially Sighted People in the UK: An interim report. Guide Dogs. Full report available at: www.guidedogs.org.uk
RNIB (2012a) Number of adults and children certified with sight impairment and severe sight impairment in England and Wales: April 2009-March 2010. RNIB. Full report available at: www.rnib.org.uk/research
RNIB (2012b) UK eye clinic support: mapping provision.
RNIB internal report.
Thomas Pocklington Trust (2007) Occasional Paper Number 11: Dementia and serious sight loss. Thomas Pocklington Trust. Full report available at: www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/research
Welsh Government (2011a) NHS programme budgets: Wales, 2009/10. Welsh Government. Full report available at: www.statswales.wales.gov.uk
Welsh Government (2011b) Outpatient activity: Wales, 2010/11. Welsh Government. Full report available at: www.statswales.wales.gov.uk