National Eye Health Week has attracted support from organisations across optics and beyond with its theme 'I Care About Eyecare'.
The campaign to raise the awareness of eye health and the need for regular sight tests has the backing of Pfizer, the College of Optometrists, Specsavers, SeeAbility and Vitabiotics Visionace, which organisers said demonstrated the theme's breadth of appeal.
The awareness week (June 13-19) is driven by a steering group of vision charities, optical bodies and providers who aim to tackle the health timebomb of vision loss. The RNIB estimates that the sight loss of 53 per cent of the 1.8 million people with eye health problems in the UK is avoidable.
Celebrities affected by eye-related conditions are also supporting the cause, including actress Phyllida Law, Adrian Mole author Sue Townsend and paralympian Ian Rose.
Some sponsorship packages remain available and organisers are encouraging 'watchers and waiters' to get on board and benefit from the PR campaign which has already started. There is a nationwide survey to drive national and regional media interest, a series of public engagement events celebrating the 'superhero status' of opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists, a media campaign on Facebook and Twitter, competitions and a radio day.
NEHW chairman David Scott-Ralphs said: 'This is a campaign organised by the sector for the sector, and if you're not on board, you should seriously be asking "why not?". Coming together en masse is the most effective way of getting this important message across to the public.'
? www.visionmatters.org.uk