Promoting Eye Health

Promoting Eye Health

Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Charles Bonnet Syndrome is a term used to describe the situation when people with sight loss start to see things which aren’t real.  Quite often called visual hallucinations, the images can take on all kinds of forms from grid like patterns on plain walls to detailed pictures of people or buildings.

A Swiss philosopher called Charles Bonnet first described the condition in the 18^th century when his grandfather, who was blind, described the birds and buildings he could see in intricate detail which weren’t there.

These hallucinations are often not a sign of mental health issues but due to sight loss in later life. One of the reasons behind them is that the brain no longer receives visual information from the eyes so it either draws on images already stored or conjures up new ones.  The experiences seem to happen when the person is just waking or during a quiet moment.  The hallucinations can last for a few minutes to a few hours and may possibly occur for up to 18 months but no two people are the same.  Unfortunately there is no known cure for Charles Bonnet but some people shut their eyes or get up and do something else in order to distract the brain from the images.  If you are overly concerned about them contact your GP or Ophthalmologist or contact us and we may be able to put you in touch with someone who is experiencing something similar.

In the modern Western world  it is shocking to think that 50% of people who lose their sight do not need to.

With a healthy lifestyle and regular eye tests, many eye conditions can be prevented or caught early enough to stop sight loss.

Sight Concern Worcestershire is dedicated to promoting this fact across Worcestershire.

Did You Know?

• Opticians do not just check how well you can see, they also check the health of your eye and can spot problems like glaucoma at an early stage which means a lot more can be done
• DIY accidents cause 20,000 eye injuries every year
• Your sunglasses should block out 75-90 per cent of visible light and 99-100 per cent of UV rays. If they are not this efficient, you could be doing serious damage to your eye sight.
• Smokers are twice as likely to lose their sight
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) estimates that squash balls alone are responsible for 2,000 hospital admissions in the UK each year.

Healthy Eating for Eyes Demonstration

One of the ways in which we promote eye health is through our Healthy Eating for Eyes demonstration.

Our dynamic duo consists of our Rehabilitation Worker and a volunteer who is a retired home economics teach. This pair can come to your community group, school or even office to do a brief demonstration on how to make quick, simply and incredibly tasty meals that are packed full of vitamins and nutrients needed to maintain healthy eye sight.

We bring everything with us, including the microwave so all you need to provide is some people willing to listen and learn!

The roadshow is free to book although as a charity, if you can make a donation we do really appreciate it.

If you are interested in having the Healthy Eating for Eyes demonstration come along to visit you, please get in touch with us on 01905 723245 or info@sightconcern.co.uk