North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has pledged his support for National Eye Health Week, which takes place this week (19- 25 September).
National Eye Health Week brings organisations and health professionals from across Wales and the UK together to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health and the need for regular sight tests.
Mr Isherwood said: “Given that 50 per cent of sight loss is avoidable, but many people in Wales still do not go for regular sight tests, National Eye Health Week is an opportunity for eye care charities, organisations and health professionals to come together to promote the importance of eye health and the need for everyone to have regular eye tests.
“Many people think a sight test is just about checking whether your vision needs correcting with glasses or contact lenses. But there are other important reasons to have a sight test. A regular sight test can help detect eye conditions before you notice the effect on your sight, including health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Many eye conditions have no early symptoms, but when they are detected early then the right type of treatment could save your sight.
“The single most important thing that people can do to protect their sight is to go for a test every two years and I would urge people in North Wales to ensure that they do just that.”
Ceri Jackson, Director of RNIB Cymru and chair of the National Eye Health Week steering group in Wales, said:
“Every day in Wales nearly 3 people lose their sight but 50% of sight loss is avoidable with early detection and treatment. The most important thing people can do to look after their eyes is to go for regular sight tests.
“Research shows that more than 1 in 10 of us has never had our eyes tested. Sight is the sense that people fear losing most yet many of us don’t know the best way to look after our eyes. We want to change that.
“A regular sight test can help detect eye conditions before you notice the effect on your sight, including health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
“NHS eye tests are free for people aged 60+ years, for children, for those on income related benefit, and those at risk of eye disease because of a family history.
“Having a sight test with an optometrist at least once every two years should be part of everyone's health care routine.
“I’m delighted that Mr Isherwood has pledged his support and hope that as many people as possible can join us during the week to raise awareness of this important campaign which will help stop people losing their sight unnecessarily.”
ENDS
Notes:
- National Eye Health Week activities are delivered in partnership by a wide range of organisations with an interest in eye health. In Wales, the steering group is chaired by Ceri Jackson, Director of RNIB Cymru. For more information about National Eye Health Week, please visit http://www.visionmatters.org.uk/.
- There are currently 106,000 people in Wales who are living with sight loss and over the next 25 years the number of people with sight loss is expected to double.
- Over 50 per cent of sight loss can be avoided by people wearing correctly prescribed glasses or having the right treatment at the right time.