05 September 2018
Nearly three in 10 British adults fail to follow the NHS recommendation to have an eye test every two years, according to new research released by eye research charity Fight for Sight.
EastEnders actress June Brown, who plays Dot Cotton in the long-running BBC soap, is joining forces with the charity to urge the public to have their eyes tested in line with the recommendations.
The YouGov research, which surveyed over 2000 people, found that 28% of adults get their eyes tested less than once every two years, with nearly one in 10 (9%) never having their eyes tested.
Of the 28% of those surveyed who admitted to getting their eyes tested less than once every two years, the main reasons given for failing to follow the NHS recommendations were because they cannot afford it (27%) or that they ‘can see fine’ (52%). Furthermore, 3% said that they were scared of what they might find out.
Releasing the statistics, Fight for Sight labelled the findings a “cause for concern,” highlighting that eye tests can detect the early stages of eye conditions such as glaucoma, as well as diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammatory disease and brain tumours.
Director of research, policy and innovation at Fight for Sight, Dr Neil Ebenezer, emphasised: “These figures make sobering reading, and it’s worrying that three in 10 people are not getting their eyes tested regularly. Even if you can see fine now it’s still really important to get your eyes tested as it can pick up on early stages of numerous eye diseases and on many other conditions not directly related to sight.”
Supporting the campaign, Ms Brown said: “I personally know how important it is to look after your sight. I suffered with a ruptured cyst, which unfortunately deteriorated to the point now where I have very poor sight. I would urge everyone to have their eyes tested regularly as this will pick up on the early signs of eye conditions so that people can get treatment where available as early as possible.”
EastEnders actress June Brown, who plays Dot Cotton in the long-running BBC soap, is joining forces with the charity to urge the public to have their eyes tested in line with the recommendations.
The YouGov research, which surveyed over 2000 people, found that 28% of adults get their eyes tested less than once every two years, with nearly one in 10 (9%) never having their eyes tested.
Of the 28% of those surveyed who admitted to getting their eyes tested less than once every two years, the main reasons given for failing to follow the NHS recommendations were because they cannot afford it (27%) or that they ‘can see fine’ (52%). Furthermore, 3% said that they were scared of what they might find out.
Releasing the statistics, Fight for Sight labelled the findings a “cause for concern,” highlighting that eye tests can detect the early stages of eye conditions such as glaucoma, as well as diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammatory disease and brain tumours.
Director of research, policy and innovation at Fight for Sight, Dr Neil Ebenezer, emphasised: “These figures make sobering reading, and it’s worrying that three in 10 people are not getting their eyes tested regularly. Even if you can see fine now it’s still really important to get your eyes tested as it can pick up on early stages of numerous eye diseases and on many other conditions not directly related to sight.”
Supporting the campaign, Ms Brown said: “I personally know how important it is to look after your sight. I suffered with a ruptured cyst, which unfortunately deteriorated to the point now where I have very poor sight. I would urge everyone to have their eyes tested regularly as this will pick up on the early signs of eye conditions so that people can get treatment where available as early as possible.”
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