Vision matters: Are the people you love looking after their eyes?

National Eye Health Week

Sight is the sense most of us fear losing more than any other. But lots of people still aren’t sure how to look after their eyes properly. That’s exactly what National Eye Health Week sets out to change.

Opticians, health professionals and charities across the UK come together this week to raise awareness of eye health and encourage everyone to take small, simple steps to protect their vision.

It’s the perfect moment to check in with family and friends. When did they last have an eye test? A quick conversation could be the nudge someone needs to book the sight-saving check-up they’ve been putting off.

Did you know?

More than 2 million people in the UK are living with sight loss serious enough to have a big impact on their daily lives. And shockingly, half of this sight loss is avoidable.

That’s a big number.

Why is it important to get your eyes tested?

Most sight loss develops too slowly to notice, which is why a regular eye examination is the single most effective way to protect yourself against it. For most people, once every two years is enough, though your Optometrist will advise if you need to come in more often.

An eye test is about more than reading letters on a chart. Your Optometrist examines the health of your eyes in detail and asks about your lifestyle, family history and general health. This means we can spot conditions long before you’d notice any change in your vision yourself.

Five daily habits for healthier eyes

Alongside regular check-ups, there’s plenty you can do day-to-day to look after your eyes. Here are five habits our Optometrist Gareth recommends:

Eat well

“Try to get plenty of fruit, vegetables, oily fish and wholegrains into your diet. Colourful fruit and veg are packed with nutrients that help protect your eyes, and oily fish contains omega-3, which helps keep your eyes moist and comfortable.”

Stay active

“Getting your heart pumping helps blood flow to your eyes, just like the rest of your body. And spending time outdoors in natural daylight is good for your eye health too.”

Protect your eyes from the sun

“Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection whenever you’re outdoors, even on cloudy days. UV rays can contribute to problems like cataracts over time.”

Give your eyes a break

“If you’re looking at a screen for long periods, try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 metres away for 20 seconds. It’s a small habit, but it really helps with eye comfort.”

Avoid smoking and drink in moderation

“Smoking really increases your risk of serious eye conditions, so it’s one of the best things you can quit for your eyes. And keeping your drinking within the recommended limits protects your whole body, including your vision.”

Explore the National Eye Health Week resources

The National Eye Health Week website has put together some brilliant resources if you’d like to find out more, or want to share something with someone you care about:

• An Eye Health Calculator that checks whether you could be doing more to protect your vision
• A Sight Loss Simulator, which lets you experience what daily life is like with common conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy
• The Let’s Talk Eye Health podcast, where optometrists and eye health experts talk about the simple things we can all do to protect our sight

Ready to book that eye test?

Visiting an optician regularly gives your eyes the best possible chance of serving you well throughout your life.
This National Eye Health Week, make sure you and the people you care about are up to date.

Contact our friendly team to book an appointment with one of our experienced Optometrists today.