Vision van on the road

Vision Express’ mobile Vision Van unit will tour the UK during National Eye Health Week – which starts on Monday (19 September) – offering free sight tests to members of the public.

The van will make stops in Portsmouth, Swindon, Swansea, Leicester and Leeds. In partnership with Public Health England, the multiple will focus on educating the public about smoking and its associated link to sight loss.

Through the collaboration, information leaflets will be distributed from the Vision Van and representatives from the Local Stop Smoking Services will be on hand in Portsmouth and Swindon to talk to residents about smoking and sight impairment.

The recent State of the Nation 2016 report by Specsavers and the RNIB found that more than two million people in the UK are living with sight loss and that for over half of these, a simple sight test and new spectacles could make all the difference.

Those who visit the van for a free sight test during the week will also be informed about a range of sight-threatening conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

CEO of Vision Express, Jonathan Lawson, said: “We want to break down the invisible barriers which prevent people caring for their vision. We know that sight loss is one of the most feared health conditions as we get older, yet one in six people have never had an eye test.”

He added: “Crucially, safeguarding your sight involves an eye test every two years, but it’s also about lifestyle factors, especially smoking. That’s why it’s valuable to work alongside Public Health England this year, to get the message out about how damaging smoking is for your sight ahead of Stoptober.”