It's Healthy Eyes Awareness Week

One in five people in Ireland have never had a sight test, according to a survey carried out by the country's opticians and optometrists, and more than a third of those under the age of 36 haven't, writes Brian Byrne.

That's a somewhat worrying background to Healthy Eyes Awareness Week, which started on Monday. The research also revealed that more than half the population have not had an eye test in the past two years, which is the recommended maximum interval between tests.

Under the national Healthy Eyes campaign running through the week, the country's eye specialists are emphasising that it's not just sight that eye checks are for, but the checks can give advance warning of other health conditions that might not yet have shown symptoms.

Research shows that sight is the sense people fear losing the most and yet most don't consider an eye test to be a core part of their health routine.

By 2020, the number of people living with sight loss in Ireland is estimated to increase to 271,996. Given the growing incidence in key underlying causes of sight loss such as obesity and diabetes, this could represent an underestimate if Ireland does not take a comprehensive approach to early detection and treatment.

It is estimated that more than 50% of sight loss is almost entirely preventable and up to 75% of sight loss in older people can be avoided. These conditions can only be prevented if they are detected early and the key to that is regular eye tests.

There are already over 220,000 people living with sight loss in Ireland - and this number is projected to increase substantially as the population ages.

It makes sense to contact your local optometrist now.