National Eye Health Week

The 18th to 24th September marks an important time on the Ophthalmic calendar as it’s National Eye Health Week.  This is a time when hundreds of charities, organisations and eye health professionals join together to raise awareness of eye health and the importance of regular sight tests.  Focusing on promoting positive action, connecting with people and getting them engaged with their eye health, it educates people about the importance of sight tests and potentially helping prevent avoidable sight loss.

Did you know? One in five people will live with sight loss in their lifetime.

Having an eye test can be the first step to saving your sight.  This is why eye tests are so important and why people of all ages, even children, should have their eyes checked regularly, at least once every two years.

Over 2 million people in the UK alone suffer from degenerative or permanent eye conditions from AMD (age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of sight loss in the developed world), to glaucoma and cataract.  All are life altering, but in many cases sight problems are minimised with early detection, and the right treatment and care.

Routine eye tests can also bring to light other underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.  So it’s worth taking the time to visit your eye care professional.

Our advice?  There’s no better time of year to think about your eyes, learn how to take good care of them and book your next eye test.  It could save your vision in later life.