Research for documentary - Secondary - Facts and figures

Here is the secondary research i have conducted which we may use in our documentary in the section about sight:

• Worldwide, about 314 million people are visually impaired. Of these, approximately 14% (45 million) are blind.

• Most people (87%) who are visually impaired live in developing countries. In developing countries, cataracts (a cloudy area that forms in the lens of the eye) are responsible for most cases of blindness (48%).

• With the right treatment, about 85% of visual impairment cases are avoidable, and approximately 75% of all blindness can be treated or prevented.

• Due to improved public health, the number of people who become blind after having an infectious disease has fallen over recent years. However, age-related visual impairment is increasing.

• Visual impairment usually affects older people. Globally, women are more at risk than men.

(http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Visual-impairment/Pages/Introduction.aspx)

• The guide dog service costs the guide dog owner a nominal fee of just 50 pence to ensure equality for all in the UK

• There are currently 4,500 working guide dog partnerships in the UK

• The full lifetime cost of a guide dog from birth to retirement is £48,500

(http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/)

Here are some stories in the news about guide dogs which we could use:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7835357/Guide-dogs-being-attacked-by-fighting-pitbull-types.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2539859/Blind-man-refused-guide-dog-because-he-walks-too-slowly.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5897234/Blind-border-collie-gets-his-own-guide-dog.html

Here is some useful information about visual impairment and some examples which we could use:

http://www.kent.gov.uk/adult_social_services/your_social_services/services_and_support/sensory_disabilities/deafblind_information/types_of_visual_impairment.aspx

Here is some information which may be useful with things such as voice overs

• Drink a cup of milk, holding the milk in your mouth for five second intervals. Milk, unlike cold water, has been known to actually subdue the effects of spicy food as opposed to covering up the symptoms for a short period of time.
• Place an ice cube in your mouth. An ice cube is much colder than the ice water people normally reach for when their mouth is hot but an ice cube is colder and lasts for a long time in your mouth.
• Eat a piece of bread. The bread will soak up the chemicals on your tongue that is causing the burning sensation.
• Swish ice water around in your mouth and repeatedly spit it out. The motion of the water on your tongue will help lift the chemicals that create the burning sensation in your mouth. When you spit the water out, you will also be eliminating the chemicals from your mouth.

(http://www.ehow.com/how_4525095_cool-mouth-after-eating-spicy.html)

This website (www.chilliworld.com) features a chilli heat scale (http://www.chilliworld.com/factfile/scoville-scale-of-hot-sauces.asp). There is also some other relevant information featured on the site such as the FAQ page which has many questions and answers about chilli's (http://www.chilliworld.com/factfile/chilli-peppers-FAQ.asp).