Regular eyetests areso important
The importance of eye tests has been highlighted by a Paisley optometrist ahead of World Sight Day.
Specsavers’ Amy Chotai says the checks can throw up vital clues to other health conditions and help treat sight problems before they worsen.
Amy, store director at the town’s Moss Street branch, told how sight tests can also give clues to other conditions including high blood pressure, tumours, glaucoma and arthritis.
She said: “Glaucoma is often symptomless as it develops so gradually.
“That’s why it is often referred to as the silent thief of sight.
“It is one of the leading causes of blindness, however, if it is identified in its early stages it can be successfully managed.
“Regular eye examinations are key to detecting it – and are so important to those at greater risk of the condition due to their older age or family history.
“At Specsavers we use advanced diagnostic equipment called OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) to examine the eye in more detail and are able to pick up any damage to the optic nerve which is typical of glaucoma.”
Research from the chain shows 40 per cent of people have delayed having an eye test, even when they felt they needed one, and 38 per cent have never thought they could suffer from significant sight loss.
The chain has also helped support eye health in developing countries for more than 10 years, through charity Vision Aid Overseas – contributing £1.6 million to the charity and sending 400 volunteer workers to help a project in Zambia.
World Sight Day takes place tomorrow.