More than 8700 people in Scotland will lose their sight in the next 12 months, RNIB says

More than 8700 people in Scotland will start to experience sight loss over the next 12 months, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has predicted.

Prevalence of sight loss will grow 21% over the next 10 years, the charity also believes.

The increase will mean that more than 234,000 people in Scotland will be living with sight loss by 2036. Currently, the number stands at 193,674.

The estimations come from the RNIB’s Sight Loss Data Tool, which holds the UK’s largest collection of eye health and sight loss data.

The predictions are estimated based on Scotland’s ageing population, with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) expected to be the condition with the greatest number of increases over the next decade.

As of 2026, there are 58,000 people in Scotland living with late-stage AMD, the RNIB said. The Sight Loss Data Tool predicts that instances of late-stage AMD in Scotland will have increased 29%, to 74,860 people, by 2036.

In the same period, England will see a 28% increase in AMD, the RNIB suggested.

James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “These figures show that sight loss in Scotland cannot be ignored.”

Adams urged the public to attend routine eye examinations every two years, and to seek help if changes in vision are noticed.

The Sight Loss Data Tool is designed to predict the number of people living with sight loss and specific sight conditions, with the aim of estimating local health and social care needs and risk factors for increased risk of eye health problems.

The Sight Loss Data Tool can be accessed online.