Optics rallies around National Eye Health Week

Vision care was thrust into the public limelight during National Eye Health Week (September 21-27) with the release of fresh optical research, opinions and marketing.

The awareness campaign, backed by a number of vision charities, optical bodies and practices, set out to drive awareness about the importance of regular eye exams.

Each day of this week focused on a different topic, including eye health, nutrition, technology and UV protection.

Organisers cited new research linking lifestyle factors to the risk of sight loss – with smoking identified as the biggest modifiable risk.

Those patients with ‘poor lifestyle scores’ and a high genetic predisposition were three times more likely to devlop AMD, according to the study published in Ophthalmology journal. Others with poor exercise patterns and diets were four times more likely to have AMD.