Health Awareness
Vision and Eye Health 2019
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Manager using three screens in job has eye disease diagnosis
A games development professional from Leamington Spa is urging UK employers to offer health initiatives for staff ahead of National Eye Health Week (23 – 29 September) after an eye test provided by her employer detected dry eye disease. 30-year-old Natasha Nathani took advantage of an annual voucher for a free eye test, provided as...
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Check your eye health during your weekly shop
We need to increase awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations and how to access these services. An eye examination is not just about whether you need glasses or not, it is an important health check not only for eye conditions but also for general health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and even brain...
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The UK needs more optometrists
The UK’s ageing population and the increase of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, are putting strain on ophthalmology centres, which are severely understaffed. Our ageing population and the increase in conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, the demand on ophthalmology in hospitals is becoming unmanageable. This is worse in certain areas where, due to...
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Glaucoma: How does it occur and evolve?
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. Visual loss from glaucoma can be prevented with an early diagnosis and treatment. The eye contains a fluid known as aqueous humour that provides nourishment to its internal structures. This fluid is produced behind the iris (coloured portion of the eye) and then is drained out...
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Short-sightedness now a global epidemic
It’s predicted that half the people on the planet will be short-sighted (myopic) by 2050 and, most worryingly, levels of ‘high myopia’ – a prescription of -6 or more – are also on the rise. This is a concern because ‘high myopia’ can increase your risk of sight-threatening conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma and...
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Losing your vision can mean losing your confidence
Eye diseases don’t always cause obvious symptoms. An eye test by an optician doesn’t just check to see whether you need glasses – it’s also an important check on the health of your eyes. Vision loss among older people is a major healthcare problem. Approximately one person in three has some form of vision-reducing eye...
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Eye care in the digital age
Research shows we now spend more time looking at a screen than we do sleeping. Eye Health UK explores what increasing screen use means for our eye health. According to the communications regulator, Ofcom, UK adults spend an average of eight hours and 41 minutes a day on digital devices, compared with the average night’s...
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Making glasses is a wasteful process; we must be more sustainable
Sustainability is a topic that has gained a lot of interest over the past few years, and has started conversations in many industries, one of which is fashion. Supermarkets across the country are becoming more environmentally conscious; reducing packaging and banning single-use carrier bags. Optical departments within supermarkets – not to be left behind –...
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The importance of children’s eye health and the impact of lifestyle
Q&A with Meena Ralhan on the importance of regular eye testing, screen time and nutrition for maintaining good eye health. What are the signs that a child may need a sight test? Does this vary for different age groups? All children are entitled to a free eye test on the NHS. Parents who have shortsightedness,...
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How to safeguard your sight
Eat right for good sight Eye-friendly nutrients found in many fruit and vegetables and fatty acids derived from fish, nuts and oils can all help protect your sight. Vitamins B and E can help protect against cataracts, while omega-3 fish oils help maintain healthy blood vessels inside the eye – research has shown that eating...
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Tunnel vision to Tokyo
Souleyman Bah is a 20-year-old Para Athlete for Great Britain, running in the T13 100m. He has represented his country at the junior Paralympics and won a gold medal in 2015. Now, he has set his sights on the Tokyo 2020 games. Souleyman was born in Guinea (west Africa) but in 2004, after his parents...
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Be clear about the importance of good eye care
Two thirds of us (67%) worry about our long-term eyesight.[1] It’s right that we should be concerned, according to new research by Optrex. Research shows one in three people aged 60+ who miss out on regular eye examinations say the quality of their vision makes them feel depressed and vulnerable,[1] while other consequences of low...
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How to keep your eyes in good shape
Eye health is a big deal as most of us are spending multiple hours a day looking at screens. We look at a couple of different ways of keeping your eyes working well. Take screen breaks Most of us are using screens for many hours a day, and this shows no signs of slowing down....
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Glaucoma, “the silent thief of sight”
It can develop imperceptibly over the course of years, even leading to blindness if undetected. We look at the value of regular eye checks and who should be particularly aware. What should we look out for and who is most at risk? “Everyone over 40 should have an eye check at least every two years,”...
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Dry eye: the most common eye condition no-one has heard of
Dry eye affects one in three people over the age of 65 and can permanently affect vision in serious cases, yet many people have never even heard of it. What is it and how can you look after your eyes? Dry eye syndrome is a common eye disorder that can make your eyes feel dry,...
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Preservative-free eye drops are the future
With up to a third of the UK population suffering from dry eye, correct treatment with lubricating eye drops is needed to prevent further worsening of symptoms. Dry eye is a very common condition that can vary from mild symptoms to sight-threatening consequences. It is often underdiagnosed, as many sufferers do not seek medical attention...
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The microscopic implant for glaucoma
Once, treatment options for glaucoma patients were limited. Now, however, a range of treatments are available, including stents which are implanted into the eye to act as drainage devices. There’s a good reason why glaucoma — a serious and progressive eye disease which causes permanent damage to the optic nerve — is known as ‘the...
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The role of your optometrist
Do you know what an optometrist does? Do you know your optometrist does more than test your vision? There’s so much more to what this eye specialist can do for you, from examining the health of your eye to detecting general health issues. You may have heard of the term, ‘optician’, which is the umbrella...
