Keep eyes healthy, see well into the future

The importance of regular eye tests for maintaining sight

With an ageing population and more people facing the prospect of working later into life, it has never been more important to look after our health; both to maintain our ability to work, and to be able to enjoy life to the full.

Eyesight is key to getting the most out of life, but it’s also an aspect of health that is often overlooked. So what steps can we take to ensure our eyes remain at their sharpest?

Specsavers is working with the International Glaucoma Association (IGA) on a health information campaign to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye examinations. The £1m initiative will coincide with World Glaucoma Week, which runs from March 12-18.

‘We’re all familiar with the usual steps we can take to maintain a healthy lifestyle as we get older,’ says Dr Nigel Best, Specsavers’ clinical spokesperson. ‘Fitbits and apps on our mobiles monitor our steps and sleep patterns – but our eye health can easily be neglected.’

RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) and Specsavers’ ‘State of the Nation’ report revealed that nearly 14 million people in the UK are not having their eyes tested every two years as recommended.

‘Conditions that can often affect our eyes over the age of 40 range from high blood pressure to age-related macular degeneration and can be detected by an optician during the course of a regular eye examination,’ Dr Best adds. ‘The earlier any such conditions are picked up the higher the chance of successfully treating them, which is why we recommend eye tests every two years.’

Glaucoma – often described as the ‘thief of sight’ due to its gradual onset – is one such condition that is more easily managed the sooner it is detected. It affects 600,000 people in the UK and more than 64 million people worldwide making it the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally.

Karen Osborn, Chief Executive of the IGA, says: ‘ Glaucoma is found in 2% of the UK’s population aged over 40. Most of those people have a slow developing form of the condition and we estimate that half of all cases – that’s over 300,000 people – remain undiagnosed and are unaware that they could be slowly losing their sight.’

RNIB and Specsavers’ research also revealed the total cost to the UK economy of sight loss in the adult population of the UK totalled £28.1 billion, leading to a huge burden on the economy due to easily preventable vision-related issues.

Sally Harvey, CEO of RNIB, adds: ‘At least half of all sight loss is preventable. Regular eye tests and early detection on the high street, followed by timely intervention and management of eye health conditions, could help save your sight.’

To donate to the IGA, text TEST17 £5 TO 70700. [Charity registered in England and Wales No. 274681 and Scotland No. SC041550]