Facing up to future with the ageing pod...
Reporter: Beatriz Ayala
Date published: 17 February 2010
STUDENTS at the Oldham College and local politicians were given the chance to visit a virtual–ageing booth to learn how to reduce the risk of becoming blind later in life.
The booth, which is touring UK colleges as part of the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s (RNIB) Future Vision tour, aims to show students how their lifestyle can affect their vision.
The virtual ageing booth simulates how people might look when they reach 70, based on their current lifestyle choices.
On leaving it, students are given a before and after photograph of themselves, along with eye health information explaining how to avoid risk factors linked to eye disease.
Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, was joined by Oldham Council leader Howard Sykes on a visit to the college to learn about the campaign.
Both politicians took to the high-tech booth to see the effects that smoking could have on their future selves.
RNIB hopes the high-tech equipment will help show how young people can prevent serious eye conditions from developing, as well as highlight the link between smoking and sight loss.
A survey conducted by RNIB showed that in the UK, 73 per cent of smokers aged 18 to 24 would consider stopping smoking permanently or reducing smoking to avoid blindness in later life.
The charity also said not smoking and having regular eye tests were two ways that people could minimise the risk of developing serious sight disease when older.
Manjit Rooprah, RNIB campaigns officer, said: “Some 50 per cent of all sight loss if tackled early enough is avoidable.
“If younger people are prepared to take their own eye health seriously, they stand a far better chance of not adding to the 1.8 million people who currently live with sight loss in the UK. “Not smoking is as important as having regular eye tests.”
Student Danny Ruane (19) tried out the booth.
He said: “I definitely won’t be smoking as the virtual age progression photo looks disgusting.”
Liz Woodworth is specialist Stop Smoking Service manager for Oldham Community Health Services (part of NHS Oldham) which supported the week-long event at the college.
She said: “We wanted to highlight to young people that the danger of losing something as precious as sight is a very real risk if they smoke.
“Stopping smoking is the single most important thing that you can do to improve your health, and you are four times more likely to quit for good if you use the professional Stop Smoking Service which we provide.”
