More action needed on health awareness

The optical industry has had much to celebrate this year, given the success of its campaigns to raise public awareness of eye health, but much remains to be done to improve services, according to leading health figures.

Speaking this week at a reception hosted by the Eye Health Alliance, Kevin Barron, chair of the health select committee, said much effort had been put into 'speaking up' for eye health and eye care during the passage of the Health Act.

'Very important debates were held and important messages were put across, particularly about how crucial regular sight tests are for the whole population, and the fact that we have preventable levels of blindess which are unacceptable in the 21st century,' Barron said.