In focus: Eye-watering cost to economy

Promoting eye health was deemed worthy of heavy investment this week when a £3m multimedia public health awareness campaign reached the Houses of Parliament.

The funds have arrived promptly following a new partnership between blindness charity RNIB and multiple Specsavers was announced last month.

‘Transforming Eye Health’ was launched at a House of Lords event hosted by Lord Low of Dalston, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment.

It demonstrated Specsavers’ growing influence in getting high street optical services on the political agenda, with a supporting study showing MPs that the cost of sight loss has soared by more than a fifth since 2008.