Blindness to increase by 21% this decade

Sight loss is set to cost the Government up to €2.6bn by 2020.

That is according to the National Council for the Blind - which said that the number of people with impaired vision or blindness will actually increase by 21% this decade.

Ireland's major eye care organisations are joining together to mark World Sight Day to call for people to take better care of their eyes and and go for regular tests.

Optometrist Owen Blee said that sight issues are fast becoming a major cost for the Government.