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Following lasts weeks big push to increase awareness amongst the population about the importance of looking after their eyes and making sure they get regular check ups, organisers are claiming the seven day event to be a big success having enjoyed excellent media coverage. Initial statistics point to almost 500 press instances during the week, with ITV's This Morning programme being the highlight.
National Eye Health Week ran from Monday 22nd to Sunday the 28th of September 2014, the fifth time that the week long event has taken place. Organised by Vision Matters, the seven day push focuses on raising awareness of vision health across the country via opticians, practices, the media and many other forms. As well as helping to make people aware of the importance of your eye sight in everyday life and how we can sometimes take it for granted, the drives main concern is ensuring that everyone knows the recommended period between check ups, with the hope that more and more people will attend at least every two years, if not more often, depending on symptoms and age. One particular statistic that stands out from the week is that as many as 1.8 million people in the UK are living with some form of sight loss, with almost 1 million of those going about their daily lives struggling, when treatments and products are available which could really help them.
Where Have We Seen The NEHW Message?
- On the sofa with Phil and Amanda at This Morning, with Dr Hilary and Dr Susan Blakeney, from the College of Optometrists
- Vista, the National Eye Health Week magazine
- Collaborations with many big high street opticians, including Optical Express and The Vision Van
The organisers were keen to point out just how pleased they had been with support from charities, the public and optical clinics and stores. Such keen interest has helped push the message out across the UK and it is hoped that the public's general knowledge and awareness of eye health has greatly increased.