People affected by sight loss have the opportunity to meet with eye experts to hear firsthand about the latest developments and innovations in this area.

The national charity, Fighting Blindness, has just announced details of its annual conference, Retina 2018. This three-day conference will include a Public Engagement Day on October 6, which will involve hundreds of people with a range of vision impairments coming together to share their experiences and hear about the latest research.

Around 224,000 people in Ireland are currently living with vision impairment or blindness. Topics set to be discussed include genetic testing, clinical trials and emerging therapies. There will also be a presentation on smart homes, which will look at how voice control technology is revolutionising life at home for people with sight loss.

The day will also involve seminars on specific conditions, so that people can get updates that are aimed directly at them. This will include conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment.

"The Public Engagement Day has grown into a significant event in Irish ophthalmology. It provides a unique opportunity for Irish patients, researchers and clinicians to engage with world leaders in clinical and science retinal research.

"The ongoing success of this meeting is down to the dedication and commitment of the Fighting Blindness staff, the support of world leaders in retinal disease and, most importantly, the engagement of patients who constantly challenge and encourage us to do better on their behalf," commented Mr David Keegan, a consultant vitreo-retinal surgeon.

Anyone who is interested in attending this event in Dublin should sign up early to avoid disappointment, according to Kevin Whelan, the CEO of Fighting Blindness.

"This event has become one of the highlights of our calendar and has grown hugely in terms of interest and attendance in recent years. If you are a person who has been diagnosed with a sight loss condition, or indeed a family member of someone in that situation, this is a golden opportunity to hear first-hand from scientists and clinicians as to the exciting developments and innovations coming down the tracks," he explained.

He insisted that people will not come across another event like this where there are so many people with a wide range of sight loss conditions under the same roof.

The Public Engagement Day will take place on October 6 at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. Anyone wishing to attend can register here

To coincide with this event, Fighting Blindness has also published its top tips for better eye health, which can be viewed here

*Pictured is Fighting Blindness ambassador and former Ireland rugby player, Shane Byrne