A regional eye health campaign has taken the opportunity to highlight the importance of routine eye tests.
Last month, Devon Local Optical Committee circulated 20,000 copies of an eye health leaflet during National Eye Health Week, to an audience including GP surgeries, dental surgeries, pharmacies, optical practices, hospitals, local authorities, Health and Well-Being Boards, local charities and libraries.
Topics covered by the leaflet included who pays for eye tests, finding local practices, diet and lifestyle and general health and vision.
‘Eye health has been a neglected area but the campaign has helped us make links with other health professionals,’ said Fiona Hiscox, optometrist and secretary and ophthalmic public health lead for the LOC.
Initially planned as a poster, the campaign leaflet included information endorsed by NHS England. The leaflets were also distributed through the newsletters of the region’s Local Medical Committee and Clinical Commissioning Groups.
Hiscox added: ‘The leaflet was designed to support National Eye Health Week but also to create something enduring for us to use in the future. We distributed it widely across Devon and decided to go for an ambitious rollout. The main objective was to raise the profile of eye health in Devon.’
Backing from the council-led Public Health Devon had also helped spread its message among wider healthcare providers in the Devon area, she added.
