MP for Chipping Barnet Theresa Villiers has paid a visit to Visioncare Medical Eye Centre in New Barnet.
The politician was welcomed by practice owner, Prakash Rughani (also pictured), who has worked in the community for the past 30 years.
Villiers said: ‘I am grateful to the Local Optical Committee and to practice owner, Prakash Rughani, for setting up this very interesting visit. I received a very useful briefing on the expected increase in the number of people in the UK living with impaired eye sight – a rise of about 115 per cent is forecast over the next 36 years.
‘I welcome the campaign to get more people regularly visiting the opticians. Conditions like glaucoma can seriously damage your vision and are easily treatable if caught early. So there are important health reasons for getting an eye test. Like the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Local Optical Committee I would encourage all my constituents to have their eyes tested regularly.’
Former Transport Minister Villiers, now Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, also took the opportunity to remind drivers of the need to book regular eye examinations.
She added: ‘This is particularly important for anyone who drives a car because of the road safety risks that come with driving without having impaired vision properly corrected with an up-to-date prescription for glasses or contact lenses.’
