Regular eye tests more vital than ever with ageing workforce

WITH an ageing population and record number of older people in work, Specsavers and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) are reminding people of the importance of regular eye tests to maintain and protect their sight. There are now more than 1.2 million Brits aged over 65 working as people continue to live longer and healthier lives. Yet research* has revealed that 250 people start losing their sight every day even though at least half of all sight loss is avoidable. Early detection is vital in the management and successful treatment of many conditions, with regular eye tests being key. But despite that, one in four people are not having an eye test every two years as recommended. Hairy with Specsavers Bikers star and Dave RNIB Myers this has National teamed Eye up Health Week (24-30 September) to help raise awareness of the importance of eye tests. The 61-year-old was diagnosed with glaucoma seven years ago following a routine visit to the opticians. It could have affected his career, but swift detection has protected the chef’s sight by enabling him to successfully manage the condition with daily eye drops. ‘I was shocked because I had no symptoms, but if it had gone unnoticed, I could have gone blind. Like so many people, my career is my passion and it’s so hard to imagine doing all the things I love if I couldn’t see.’ RNIB shows interim that the CEO older Eliot you Lyne are, added: the greater ‘Research your chances of developing an eye condition, so it is very important that people book themselves in for an eye test every two years. ‘With the right support, people with sight loss can continue working, and if you are an employer, RNIB and other organisations can help you to properly support a member of staff who is losing their sight. ‘Advances in technology mean that blind and partially sighted people can now overcome many of the barriers to work that they faced in the past, and government schemes like Access to Work mean that many of the costs can be met.’ All in cataracts detecting Specsavers and and other optometrists monitoring eye health glaucoma, are conditions. accredited To complement their skills, Specsavers and RNIB have also launched eye health training for Specsavers’ non clinical teams, including optical assistants and frame stylists, to ensure that whoever a customer first sees in-store is sympathetic to their eye care needs. To book your free NHS-funded eye examination visit specsavers.co.uk or call 0800 0680 241. Free eye examination funded by the Scottish Government and available in Scotland only. * YouGov Survey commissioned by Specsavers and RNIB 23rd June -7th July 2017 of 6,430 UK adults aged 18+.