"Double
Your
Chances
of Sight
Loss
- Smoke."
The video, which has been
produced with the support of the Scottish Executive, is being shown on a tour of 13 towns and cities with a
potential audience of three million people.
Greenock and Inverclyde MSP
and member of Holyrood's Health Committee,
Duncan McNeil, will be visiting the display at 10.00 a.m on Friday 5
Mays. He says it is vital that awareness of the sight loss risks is raised:
"We all know that
smoking does serious damage to your heart and lungs,"
he said today. "But few
people realise that it could also cost you your
sight. I'm therefore
delighted that RNIB Scotland has brought this
hard-hitting message to Inverclyde.
"Convincing more people
to stop smoking is key to improving public
health in communities like ours and new figures show that seven out of
ten smokers would either quit or at least cut down if they thought it
could harm their eyesight. Smokers,
then, must be aware that their habit
makes them twice as likely to go blind."
John Legg, Director, RNIB
Scotland, says: "Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading
cause of sight loss and smoking is the only avoidable proven cause of AMD.
Smokers are twice as likely to contract the condition as non-smokers.
"The link between AMD
and smoking has now been shown to be as strong as the link between smoking and
lung cancer, but very few people know about it.
"The message is
simple," concludes John Legg." Do not take up smoking and if you do -
stop! People also need to make sure they have regular eye tests to check their
eyes are healthy - an eye test can save your sight."
The campaign is also being
supported by Scotland's Optometrists (opticians). Gillian Sym, Vice Chairwoman
of Optometry Scotland, will also be attending the photocall.
The campaign has been
endorsed by Health Minister Mr Andy Kerr, MSP: "I welcome the steps being
taken by RNIB Scotland to raise awareness of the detrimental effect smoking can
have on your sight, as this is not as well known as some of the other health
risks more commonly associated with smoking.
"Scotland can be proud
that it is the first part of the UK to become smoke-free. Not only will this
ambitious legislation protect people from the harmful effects of second-hand
smoke, but it will also help many people to give up smoking.
"A smoke-free Scotland
is a healthier Scotland with a brighter future," added the Minister.
ENDS
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