#avoidable blindness

World Sight day is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.  This year the theme for the day is 'No more avoidable blindness'.  You can find out more about the global initiative here

To celebrate world sight day we have been sending Visibility information packs, including leaflets on the most common eye conditions, out to local opticians. 

Many people think of avoidable blindness as a problem of the  developing world, but in the UK too, the outcome of many conditions can be improved by early diagnosis and treatment.

Most people are recommended to go for a free check-up every two years, unless otherwise advised by an optometrist. This will ensure any changes in vision or eye health are picked up early.

Glaucoma is a sight threatening condition that does not cause symptoms initially, at risk groups include those over 40 with a family history of the condition or people of African Caribbean descent.

You can have a free eye examination ONCE A YEAR if you:

are under 16

are 60 or over

have ocular hypertension or diabetes

have glaucoma, or are 40 or over and your mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter has glaucoma.