One in 10 'have never had an eye examination'

The nationwide survey, commissioned by Pentax Vision Europe, was based on face-to-face interviews with 1,954 adults aged over 15. It shows that, while two-thirds of the public agrees it is important to have regular checks on the health of the eye, only four in 10 have visited their practitioner during the past 12 months and fewer than six in 10 have been to the optician in the past two years. Top of the list of reasons not to go, at 13 per cent, was the fear among the public that they might have to wear spectacles. Men were more concerned than women, at 15 per cent versus 11 per cent. Further down the list, people cited concern that they might read the eye chart or answer the practitioner's questions incorrectly and a dislike of the equipment used to test eyes. Pentax Vision Europe general manager David Moore admitted he was surprised by the findings, but said media coverage of the results, with radio broadcasts and newspaper articles, had enabled the company to put the record straight and allay fears. 'The more we can do to educate consumers and dispel optical myths, the better for us all,' he added. Around 60 per cent of those surveyed agreed that lens choices were explained by their practitioner.