In focus: Looking to open eyes on preventable sight loss

Almost half of UK adults said they feared losing their sight more than any other long-term health condition, according to the data from Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). With a reported 13.8 million Brits failing to attend regular eye examinations, is the eye care profession doing enough to educate the public about the importance of eye testing?

National Eye Health Week (NEHW) (September 18-24) has aimed to change the public’s perception of eye exams. This week, several charities, organisations and health professionals in the eye care profession joined forces to promote the importance of eye health and attending regular eye checks. By finding innovative ways to educate the public about eye health, Vision Matters – the charity behind the campaign – hoped to raise awareness of the vital role eye consultations can play in preventing avoidable sight loss and detecting other health conditions.