Lesley Cree Opticians supports National Eye Health Week 2017

As has been the case in previous years, Lesley Cree Opticians is delighted to announce that once again we will be supporting National Eye Health Week 2017.

From Monday 18 to Sunday 24 September, charities, organisations and health professionals working in the eye care sector will band together to raise awareness of eye health and the importance of having regular eye examinations.

The mission for this year’s National Eye Health Week is to educate people about the importance of their eye health and how they can prevent avoidable sight loss by having regular eye examinations.

To coincide with National Eye Health Week 2017, a report commissioned by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) alarmingly found that one in five people will live with sight loss in their lifetime, despite almost half the cases being unavoidable had they sought medical help sooner.

The report worryingly found each day another 250 people start living with sight loss. Women have been found at greater risk of losing their sight in their lifetime compared to men.

The RNIB found that 80% of people were not aware that an optician can spot the early signs of sight loss. It is for this reason that Lesley Cree Opticians is supporting National Eye Health Week 2017 and keen to stress the medical benefits of having regular examinations at least every two years.

Commenting, Lesley Cree said “When you put the statistics into perspective, it is really sad to see just how much the UK public neglects their eye health, especially when a recent poll showed that 78% of people asked said their losing their sight would the sense they would least like to lose. Whether it is ignorance or they aren’t aware of the importance of the eye health, it is our responsibility as professionals within the eye care industry to educate people on the importance of having regular eye examinations.”

When compared to the statistics reporting how frequently people check other health and lifestyle choices such as mobile phone contracts, household appliance services and other medical health check ups, it has become apparent that worryingly getting your eyes tested is a much lower priority.