National Eye Health Week 2022

This year, National Eye Health Week falls from the 19th to the 25th of September. (UPDATE: due to recent events, the timetable of National Eye Health week has been changed, you can find the updated timetable here)

This is a week dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of eye health. Most people fear losing their vision but do not take the simple steps to better care for their eyes.

Last Year, more than 6000 individuals and organizations joined the campaign, which generated over 200 million opportunities for the public to engage in advice about taking care of their vision both in the press and online.

There are around 2 million people in the UK living with severe sight loss, which significantly impacts how they operate day to day. Up to 1 million of these people could have avoided serious damage by taking better care of their eyes

One of the main ideas The National Eye Health Week promotes is taking regular vision tests. These can help detect early signs of severe eye conditions, such as Glaucoma, Astigmatism, and Cataracts. A vision test may also detect other health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

This year, The National Eye Health Week is focusing on good vision for driving, Live Well to See Well, minor eye conditions such as nearsightedness and astigmatism, advancements in eye health technology, eye health during menopause and children’s eye health.

David Cartwright, chair of Eye Health UK – the charity responsible for organizing the awareness week, commented:

“I’d urge everyone to get involved, add their voice to the conversation, and help to spread the word on the simple things we can all do to keep our eyes and vision healthy

You can find out more about National Eye Health Week on the Vision Matters website or get involved on social media platforms by using the official hashtags: #Eyeweek #VisionMatters and #FrEyeDay.

The Vision Matters website provides plenty of additional resources, ways to get involved with the National Eye Health Week, and helpful tools – such as their Eye Health Calculator and Sight Loss Simulator.

National Eye Health Week: Most Common Vision Issues

Many of the common eye health issues that the National Eye Health Week raises awareness for can be prevented with good habits and lifestyle choices.

Some come naturally with age and some can be genetic. This is why getting vision tests regularly is important, to catch these issues early on and potentially take steps to prevent further damage.

The main Eye health issues this year include:

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and pupil and focuses the light into the retina at the back of the eye – allowing us to see.

When a cataract forms, the lens becomes progressively more opaque making it difficult for light to pass through – causing blindness and blurred/distorted vision. Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 40 and are also the principal cause of blindness worldwide but they can be treated through Cataract or Lens Replacement surgery.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that affect the optic nerve due to changes in pressure inside the eye (Ocular Hypertension). The most common type of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, progresses slowly and painlessly, often without causing any noticeable symptoms. However, over time, it can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss.

Glaucoma affects 2 in every 100 people over the age of 40 but can be treated if caught early on.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The most common issue is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This is the leading cause of blindness in the UK, affecting an estimated 600,000 UK residents. This typically affects people in their 50s and 60s and an exact cause is not known, but it has been linked to smoking, high blood pressure and being overweight.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a degenerative eye disease that leads to progressive vision loss. RP is caused by a mutation in one of the genes that control the function of the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. RP typically affects both eyes and often begins in childhood or adolescence.

It affects approximately 1 in 4,000 people

National Eye Health Week: How Much of the UK is Affected?

According to a report from 2021 by Specsavers on the current state of the UK’s Eye Health, an estimated 713,000 people are living with a cataract, with an expected 28% increase by 2030.

1.39 Million (Estimated) are currently living with Ocular Hypertension, with a further 708,000 living with Glaucoma – expected to rise by another 18% in the next ten years.

These are two very avoidable conditions that are affecting millions of people in the UK alone. The National Eye Health Week aims to push people toward regular vision tests and raise awareness of easily preventable conditions – with the hopes of helping people retain one of their most valuable senses.

Read the full State of the UK’s Eye Health Report

What You Can Do To Help

If you would like to get involved with the National Eye Health Week, you can visit the Vision Matters website where you can sign up for their newsletters and free supporter services. You can also support the cause by donating directly to Vision Matters.

Alternatively, you can join the conversation online by following @myvisionmatters on Twitter and using the hashtags #Eyeweek #VisionMatters and #FrEyeDay.

If you have any concerns about your vision, you can book an eye test at several opticians nationwide, or you may be eligible for a free eye test from the NHS. Check here to see if you are eligible.