The Live Wire

Key issues

Children

  • Good eyesight is crucial to ensure a child develops at school and socially to the best of their ability
  • All children are entitled to a free annual NHS sight test
  • Regular eye tests are important to check for the early signs of eye disease, which if left untreated, could lead to blindness
  • Many eye conditions do not display any symptoms so its important for children to have regular eye tests
  • The eye is still developing up until the age of 7 so if problems are treated early it can make a life-lasting difference
  • Children with a family history of eye problems are more at risk of developing squint and lazy eye

Older people

  • Anyone aged 60 and over is entitled to a free NHS sight test
  • Those who are housebound due to a physical or mental disability may be entitled to a free NHS domiciliary eye test in their own home or residential home
  • Good eyesight is crucial to maintain independence, improve quality of life and reduce the risk of falls
  • Older people are more at risk from glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts
  • Regular eye tests are the best way to ensure any problems are picked up early and treated
  • Other health problems such as high blood pressure could also be detected in an eye test

Drivers

  • Driving with poor eyesight is an offence which could result in a fine of up to £1,000.
  • Although drivers have their eyesight checked as part of the driving test this is only a basic distance test and it is not checked again until the driver is 70
  • Regular eye tests are crucial to ensure all drivers can see clearly and are not putting themselves and others at risk

Reducing avoidable sight loss

  • According to research from the RNIB over two million people in the UK are at risk of losing their sight
  • Regular eye tests are the simplest way to reduce the high number of people needlessly losing their sight
  • Preventing blindness also reduces the financial burden of providing rehabilitation and support to those with serious visual impairment

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