National Eye Health Week
This is is running from the 19th to the 25th of September with the aim to spread awareness.
Just like other awareness campaigns, this campaign aims to inspire and educate people on the importance of eye health and why it is crucial for people to go and get regular sight tests.
Our vision really matters.
Sight is the sense people fear losing the most, yet many of us don’t know how to look after our eyes.
Find out about this year’s national health week here. visionmatters
Eye Care Facts and Help
Our eyes contribute so much to our lives. We need to take care of them, like any other part of our body.
· Around 2 million people are living with severe sight loss in the UK. This can significantly impact their daily life and everyday activities.
· A sight test easily detects the early signs of eye conditions such as glaucoma, which is a treatable and manageable condition if detected early on. During a sight test, many other health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, or cataracts can be detected
· As with all healthcare today regular eye tests are advisable to help prevent any issues with your vision or eye health .
Here’s what you can do to help:
Protect your eyes from UV. Exposure to UV can accelerate cataracts. Winter Sun is lower in the sky and with a wet road the glare can make it uncomfortable to drive. When searching for sunglasses, aim for glare reducing polarised lenses and look for the British standards kitemark or CE mark. This means they offer a safe level of protection against harmful UV light.
If you get something in your eye it is important to try and not rub it, instead lift your upper eyelid
Importance of getting eye tests
It is recommended that everyone should get their eyes tested every 2 years unless your optician advises otherwise. Lots of eye health issues don’t necessarily have any symptoms or cause pain . Essentially you could have eye issues without realising and getting tested could help solve it before it becomes a problem.
However, you should be seen more frequently if you:
· Have Diabetes
· Are aged 40+ with a family history of Glaucoma
· Are over 70
· Have worn glasses from a very early age
To maintain good eye health, you need to make sure you’re eating well, not smoking or drinking alcohol excessively, and wearing eye protection in bright sunlight.
If you do need glasses then having the right prescription will benefit you in the long run, along with regular testing to make sure the prescription is as up to date as possible.
Booking in with Harrolds opticians
Find a branch on our website to see which Harrolds opticians is closest to you..
We are a family-run optician that prides ourselves on the great work we do with the community to make sure you are getting the best from your eyes and vision.
Book an appointment today to ensure that your eyes are as healthy as they can be. We have NHS free testing (check your eligibility here) as well as offering corporate eye tests for VDU users and more. Book now!
