Women at risk of living with treatable eye diseases
New research finds women are skipping routine eye checks, placing them at greater risk of developing otherwise treatable eye diseases.
Specsavers Optometrists are encouraging women to book in for a routine eye check to ensure the ys tay on the front foot of silent symptoms that could result in the diagnosis ofap reventable eye condition.
Ne wr esearch commissioned by Specsavers New Zealand ha sr evealed that shockingly ,89pe rcent of New Zealand women admit to having experienced an i ssue with their eye. Of those women, nearlya quarter (23%) said they didn’t see an optometris to ra healthcar ep rofessional for their las te y ei ssue and just waited for ittogoa way on its own.
The equivalent of more than one-thir dofKi wi women hav e ne ver had their eyes checked, or can’t recall the last time they did, leaving them unknowingl yv ulnerable to conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
Specsavers Optometrist, Sima Lal sa ys w omen need to prioritise their health, including ey ete sts, which can detect more than just vision loss — it’s a vital health check.
“It’s critical fo rw omen to get regular eye health checks a ss ome conditions aren’ tob vious and may be brought on by facto rs s uch as family history, s une xposure, medication or could just be incidental in nature.
“Not only is getting your eyes tested regularly extremely important because many eye conditions are characteris edb ys ilent symptoms, but we would especially encourage you to come in if you have noticed changes to your eyes or are dealing with ongoing, irritating problems. Simpl yw aiting for the problem to go away can be detrimental to your eyes and overall health,” continued Lal.
According the Specsave rsr esearch, women also tended to put the needs of their childr eno r their work ahead of their own medical need sw ith 37 percent of women cancelling or postponing a medical appointment to prioritise the needs of their children over their own health. Another thir dof respondents admitted to prioritising thei rw ork.
“I know it can be difficult, especially if you have family o rw ork commitments, but if left untreated, poor eye health could impact our ability to help the people who need us,” Lal concluded.
Simply waiting for the problem to go away can be detrimental to your eyes and overall health.
In addition to othe rr egular health checks, regular eye health checks are important to schedule every two years o rs ooner if you notice any changes to your eyes . Vi sit specsavers.co.nz/stores to book your appointment or for more information.
Specsavers offer fr ee e ye health checks to
New Zealanders under the age of 16 every two years. Thos eonalo wer-income and with government issued Community Services Cards can also access a range of subsidised services and products through Specsavers. Those signed up with Souther nC ross health insurance are eligible for half price eye-tests, and AA members can access thos ee ye-tests for free.