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Eye health experts today marked National Eye Health Week (18 – 24 September) with a stark warning that a million people in the UK are living with avoidable sight loss severe enough to have a significant impact on their daily lives – leaving them unable to do things such as drive. And worryingly, this number is forecast to rise by a third by 2030, if we don’t take action now.[1]

David Cartwright, Chair of National Eye Health Week explains: “Eyesight declines as part of the natural aging process and some cases of sight loss are still sadly unavoidable but for many simply going for regular eyes tests and adopting a healthier lifestyle could prevent sight loss having a significant impact on our lives and help people to live well for longer.”

Your lifestyle can impact your eye health regardless of your genetic predisposition.[2] Being physically active has been shown to reduce your risk of visual impairment by 58 per cent versus somebody with a sedentary lifestyle;[3] whilst ditching a diet high in meat – more than 3.5oz daily (the equivalent of two small sausages) – could help cut your risk of cataract.[4]

Research published in the British Medical Journal reveals as many as one in five cases of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the UK’s leading cause of blindness, are caused by tobacco consumption.[5] Making smoking directly responsible for around 120,000 cases of AMD in Britain today.[6]

There is also growing evidence to suggest that what we eat and drink can play a role in triggering the onset and progression of AMD. One research study has shown that eating just one portion of fish a week could reduce your risk of developing AMD by as much as 40 per cent,[7] whilst, heavy drinking (three or more standard drinks per day) has been associated with the development of early AMD.[8]

Poor uptake of regular eye tests, once every two years unless advised otherwise by your optometrist, is also a big risk factor for unnecessary sight loss as the early detection and treatment of common eye conditions like glaucoma is essential to avoid irreversible sight loss.

Almost 14 million (13.8) of us fail to have regular eye tests[9] yet your optometrist can spot signs of glaucoma years before you may notice a change in your vision. In fact, there are an estimated 300,000 people living in the UK with undiagnosed glaucoma because they have not had a recent eye test.[10]

David Cartwright concludes: “Over the next seven days National Eye Health Week will seek to inspire people to make small lifestyle changes that could make a big difference to their future eye health.”

National Eye Health Week’s six simple sight savers

1. Quit smoking. Smokers have a significantly greater risk of sight loss than non-smokers. Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the delicate surface and the internal structure of the eye. This can lead to an increased risk of many eye conditions including AMD; nuclear cataracts; thyroid eye disease; dry eye and impaired colour vision.

2. Eat right for good sight. Most of us have no idea that what we eat can affect how well we see, however, eye-friendly nutrients found in many fruit and vegetables and fatty acids derived from fish, nuts and oils can all help protect your sight. Vitamins B and E can help protect against cataracts whilst Omega-3 fish oils help maintain healthy blood vessels inside the eye.

3. Watch your weight. More than half of all British adults are overweight however maintaining a healthy weight helps preserve macula pigment density, which in turn, helps protect the retina against the breakdown of cells and the onset of AMD. Obesity also puts you at increased risk of diabetic retinopathy and damage to blood vessels in the eye caused by excess body weight has been linked to glaucoma.

4. Get fit. Aerobic exercise can help increase oxygen supplies to the optic nerve and lower any pressure that builds up in the eye. Reducing intraocular pressure can help control conditions such as glaucoma.

5. Cover up. Exposure to UV light can increases your risk of developing macular degeneration and cataract. In fact, frequent use of sunglasses has been associated with a 40 per cent decrease in the risk of posterior sub-capsular cataract.[11] Always wear sunglasses when the UV index rises above three and check your sunglasses filter AT LEAST 99 per cent of UVA and UVB light. Look out for a CE or British Standard or UV 400 mark when choosing your sunglasses as this indicates they provide adequate UV protection.

6. Be screen smart. On average, we spend more than eight hours a day[12] staring at a screen so it’s no surprise that 90 per cent of us say we experience screen fatigue – tired or irritated eyes, blurred vision, headaches and poor colour perception. Avoid eye strain by using the 20-20-20 rule, especially if you’re using a computer for long periods of time. Look 20 feet in front of you every 20 minutes for 20 seconds.

And, don’t forget to book an eye test during National Eye Health Week if you haven’t had one in the last two years.

[1] State of the Nation’s Eyes Report 2017 [http://www.rnib.org.uk/state-nation-2017]

[2] Joint Associations of Diet, Lifestyle, and Genes with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Kristin J. Meyers et al. Ophthalmology Journal, Sept 2015

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4047137/

[4] http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2011/03/23/ajcn.110.004028

[5] British Medical Journal, Vol. 328, S. 537

[6] Calculated using Macular Society AMD prevalence data

[7] Dietary Fatty Acids and the 5-Year Incidence of Age-related Maculopathy, Brian Chua et al. Journal of Food Science

[8] Chong EW, Kreis AJ, Wong TY et al. Alcohol consumption and the risk of age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Ophthalmol 2008;145:4 707-715.  

[9] National Eye Health Week Consumer Study conducted by Atomik Research, in accordance with MRS guidelines and regulations,on a representative sample of 2,002 UK respondents aged 18+ between 24 – 31 August 2016. 

[10] International Glaucoma Association (IGA) estimate for Cases of undiagnosed glaucoma in the UK

[11] Delcourt C et al. Light exposure and the risk of corticol, nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataracts: the Pathologies OculairesLiees a l’Age (POLA) study. Arch Ophthalmol, 2000: 118:385-92

[12] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/26826/cmr_uk_2016.pdf

Published : 18 September 2017

The eye health supplement published in The Sunday Telegraph today (17 September) explains why everyone should have regular eye tests and highlights some of the simple things we can all do to keep our eyes and vision healthy. Read it again here

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Published : 17 September 2017

Eye Health UK, the charity responsible for running National Eye Health Week, has teamed up with the NHS and West Midlands Local Eye Health Network to produce a video animation to help people look after their eyes.

The video highlights how your lifestyle can affect your eye health and why regular sight tests are important for us all.

For more information and to download the video animation click here

Published : 14 September 2017

Eye Health UK the charity behind, the National Eye Health Week campaign, is warning about the dangers of looking directly at the sun during the partial solar eclipse on 21 August.

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Britain just before sunset on Monday when the moon covers 10 per cent of the sun’s diameter and two per cent of its area.

The phenomenon will continue for around 40 minutes and by visible across areas of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from around 7.35pm. Visit http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/uk for accurate eclipse viewing times across the UK.

Even though the weather forecast is for cloudy skies people must ensure they take proper precautions when viewing the phenomenon.

Looking directly at the sun, even for a moment[1], can lead to irreversible damage to the eye, solar retinopathy – a photochemical reaction that damages and destroys the light receptor cells that enable us to see. The symptoms of solar retinopathy, which may not become apparent for hours or even days after exposure to the Sun, include a black spot appearing in the centre of your vision, light sensitivity and reduced visual acuity. There is no specific cure for the condition, which in severe cases can lead to permanent sight loss.

David Cartwright, Chairman of the Charity Eye Health UK, explains: “Anyone looking directly at the sun during the eclipse risks causing permanent damage to their eyesight so we are urging people to enjoy this rare cosmic event by viewing it indirectly. Children are particularly susceptible to damage because the lens of a child’s eye allows 70 per cent more light to reach the retina than in an adult[2].”

The fact that the sun or the sky may seem ‘dull’ during the eclipse does not mean it is safe to look at with the naked eye, sunglasses, smoked glass or optical instruments such as binoculars, telescopes or cameras.

The only completely safe way to view the eclipse is indirectly. You can do this using a simple homemade pinhole card.

Just take a piece of stiff card and pierce it with a pin. Stand with your back to the sun, and hold the card up. Then, carefully adjust the angle of the card until an image of the Sun is projected. You can project the image onto the ground, a wall or a second piece of card.

Alternatively, you could use an ordinary kitchen colander to project an image of the sun. This is great fun for kids as you can project multiple images at the same time!

It is possible to purchase special eclipse viewing solar filters, although it is vital to ensure that any filter you use is specifically made for solar observation, carries a CE Mark and that it is not scratched or damaged. Make sure you hold the special filter firmly over both eyes BEFORE looking up at the Sun, and don’t remove it until AFTER looking away. The sun should look quite dim and the sky should be completely black - if this is not the case then DO NOT USE THE FILTER.

If you are in any doubt about eye safety you can watch the eclipse on one of the many live webcasts being broadcast from countries along the path of the eclipse.

[1] British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit. In 39% of patients presenting to hospital ophthalmologists after the 1999 eclipse, the time spent looking at the eclipse was reported to be less than 60 seconds

[2] The Vision Centre, Los Angles Children’s Hospital

Published : 21 August 2017

The countdown is on! It’s just one hundred days until the start of this year’s National Eye Health Week (18 – 24 September).

There are many ways that you can get involved to help spread the word about the importance of regular sight tests and inspire people to make lifestyle choices that benefit their eye health.

More details about the National Eye Health Week 2017 campaign will be announced over the coming weeks but in the meantime, here’s a short check list of things you can do to prepare for the UK’s biggest celebration of vision and good eye health.

1) Help get eye health trending on Twitter by joining our thunderclap. Sign up with your Twitter and Facebook accounts at http://thndr.me/0hXCXW

2) Show your support by tying a National Eye Health Week twibbon to your Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels. For information visit https://twibbon.com/support/national-eye-health-week

3) Register for your FREE supporter resource pack by sending your name, address and email details to info@visionmatters.org.uk

4) Set a date, plan your event or promotional activity and register it on the official NEHW calendar here http://www.visionmatters.org.uk/secure/submit-an-event

Download a copy of our Events Handbook if you need some inspiration when planning how to mark this year’s campaign.

5) Post announcements about your plans on your website and social media channels. Use the hashtags #EyeWeek and #VisionMatters.

Thanks for your support. Together we can make a real difference to nation’s eye health.

Published : 10 June 2017

With the Met Office forecasting “VERY HIGH” UV levels this bank holiday[1] Eye Health UK is issuing a stark warning to parents to protect their children’s eyes from the sun or put them at risk of permanent sight loss.

When the UV Index reaches three or more[2] – even on cloudy days – wearing sunglasses or UV protective lenses is vital, especially for children. Yet, 45 per cent of parents say their children ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ wear sunglasses[3].
 

Our eyes are ten times more sensitive to UV light than our skin and children’s eyes are at the greatest risk of UV damage. Big pupils and clearer lenses mean up to 70 per cent more UV light reaches the retina than in an adult's eye. In fact, 80 per cent of a lifetime’s UV is absorbed into the eye by the time a child reaches the age of 18[4].

Short-term exposure to UV can lead to photophobia – visual discomfort and sensitivity to bright light or photokeratitis, a sunburn-like condition that can last 48 hours or so.

However, cumulative exposure to UV can lead to permanent sight loss – it is one of the main risk factors of age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of sight loss in the UK) and cataracts, a clouding of the eyes lens, which affects one in three people aged over 65 years.

Other potential eye health problems related to UV exposure include pterygium – a growth on the white of the eye, which encroaches onto the cornea and can obscure your vision. Repeated exposure to sunlight can also increase your risk of cancer of the eyelid and the skin surrounding the eye.

David Cartwright, Chairman of Eye Health UK explains: “We should all be aware of the harm UV can do to our eye health. Popping on a pair of sunglasses when slapping on the sunscreen is a habit that would benefit us all and prevent future avoidable sight loss.

David continues: Ideally all children - and adults - should wear good quality sunglasses and a peaked hat when spending any time outdoors. It's especially important for parents to safeguard their children's eyes when they are playing on the beach or by water where there is a lot of reflected light.”

Brimmed hats and sunshades attached to prams and pushchairs will generally provide adequate protection for babies and very young children.

When buying sunglasses, you should always ensure that they carry a UV 400, CE or British Standard mark to ensure that the sunglasses offer a safe level of UV protection.

‘Toy’ sunglasses or those not providing at least 99 per cent protection from UVA & UVB can actually cause more damage because the tinted lenses dilate the pupil allowing more UV light to enter the eye.

Eye Health UK’s Top Tips for Kids’ Eye Protection

1. Wear sunglasses that carry a UV 400, CE or British Standard mark.
2. For maximum protection wear a cap or brimmed hat in addition to your sunglasses.
3. Stay out of the midday sun.
4. Choose plastic or toughened glass lenses for added durability.
5. Ensure the sunglasses fit well and feel comfortable – your optician can advise on styles and sizes to ensure maximum protection and fit. Foam frames can be a good option very young children.

6. When slapping on sun screen remember to pop on a pair of sunglasses.

[1] The Met Office forecasts Solar UV highs of eight

[2] Log on to http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_uv.html for daily UV index

[3] Eyecare Trust, UV Report 2009

[4] According to the World Health Organisation

Published 25 May 2017

Did you know the link between smoking and sight loss is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer? To mark National No Smoking Day (8 March 2017) we're highlighting twenty ways smoking can affect your vision and eye health.

#1 Tobacco smoke causes biological changes in your eyes that can lead to vision loss

#2 Cigarettes contain toxins that enter your eyes & increase your risk of sight loss by up to four times

#3 Tobacco chemicals damage blood vessels inside your eyes

#4 Tobacco chemicals interfere with the production of your tears

#5 Smoking causes oxidative stress and damages your retina

#6 Tobacco reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your macula

#7 Smoking is a key risk factor for #AMD, the UK’s leading cause of blindness

#8 Research published in @bmj suggests 1 in 5 cases of #AMD are caused by tobacco consumption

#9 On average smokers develop #AMD 5 years earlier than non-smokers

#10 Smoking is a major risk factor in the development of cataracts

#11 The risk of nuclear cataracts is 3 times greater in smokers

#12 Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing diabetic retinopathy

#13 Smoking increases your risk of dry eye syndrome – the leading cause of eye irritation in over 65s

#14 Smoking is associated with the development of thyroid eye disease

#15 Smokers have increased prevalence of colour vision deficiency

#16 Nicotine poisoning can make it difficult to clearly distinguish colours with a red or green hue

#17 Smokers are twice as likely to suffer Uveitis than non-smokers.

#18 Smoking increases the risk of contact lens wearers suffering corneal ulcers 

#19 Smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of your child having a squint 

#20 Smoking around loved ones increases their risk of suffering sight loss

Say #eyequit today. For help to stop smoking visit quitnow.smokefree.org.uk

Published : 7 March 2017

This year's National Eye Health Week (NEHW) will take place 18 – 24 September 2017.

Building on the success of the 2016 campaign, which saw thousands of healthcare professionals, organisations and charities join forces to transform people’s attitudes and behaviour towards looking after their eyes, this year’s awareness week will once again focus on promoting mass participation from national and regional stakeholders.

David Cartwright, Chair of Eye Health UK, the charity responsible for running the Week, said: “We hope to encourage everyone with an interest in vision and eye health to come together this September to promote engaging eye health messages.”

David continues: “Over recent years we have seen how NEHW can connect with people and promote positive action. Last year 39 per cent of UK Adults said they recalled reading, seeing or hearing NEHW media and 87 per cent of these (over 16 million people) said it had encouraged them to take better care of their eye health. We plan to harness the momentum we have created to make an even bigger impact in 2017.”

There are lots of ways individuals and organisations can get involved in the Week, from joining the NEHW mailing list and using the free resources to share advice about the importance of regular sight tests and how healthy lifestyle choices can benefit vision to sponsoring an activity or becoming an official partner of the Week.

To join the NEHW mailing list or for information about sponsorship opportunities please email info@visionmatters.org.uk.

Further details about the 2017 campaign including its official partners and this year’s supporter resources will be announced in the coming weeks.

Published : 21 February 2017

As part of National Eye Health Week optometrists today (25 September 2016) warned that the relationship between smoking and sight loss is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer and urged smokers take up the Stoptober challenge [1].

According to research published in the British Medical Journal[2] as many as one in five cases of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the UK’s leading cause of blindness, are caused by tobacco consumption. This means smoking is currently responsible for around 120,000 cases of AMD[3].

David Cartwright, chair of National Eye Health Week explains: “Despite there being a stronger link between AMD and smoking, than lung cancer and smoking Britain’s seven million smokers are largely unaware of the dangers. Fewer than 10% realise smoking can affect their eye health. This compares to 92% associating smoking with lung cancer and 87% identifying a link between smoking and the risk of heart disease[4].

Omar Hassan Head of Professional Services at Vision Express continues: “Smokers are up to four times more likely to suffer AMD than non-smokers and are likely to suffer from the condition earlier than non- smokers.”

Research shows the average age for a non- smoker to develop AMD is 74.4 years of age, five years later than smokers whose average age is 69.2 years[5]. Smokers are also likely to experience a more rapid progression of AMD and poorer treatment outcomes.

Tobacco smoke is composed of as many as 4,000 active compounds, which can damage the delicate surface and the internal structure of the eye.

Smokers are also at increased risk of other eye conditions such as nuclear cataracts; thyroid eye disease; dry eye and poor colour vision.

David Cartwright comments: “Having regular sight tests, once every two years unless advised otherwise by your optometrist, is vital for everyone but never more so than for smokers. Early detection of conditions such as AMD is essential to prevent avoidable sight loss.”

Eye health maps produced by National Eye Heath Week in conjunction with Vision Express have revealed hotspots of the UK where levels of smoking are high and uptake of sight tests are low leaving residents at increased risk of sight loss.

These hotspots include: The London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, Birmingham, Knowsley, Cwm Taf, South Tynside, Corby, Bradford and Hull.

Omar Hassan concludes: “However there is some good news – if a patient stops smoking the risk of losing sight decreases over time so the sooner they stop the better for their vision. If you smoke why not try quitting during Stoptober. It could just save your sight.”

#20Ways smoking can affect your eye health

#1 Tobacco smoke causes biological changes in your eyes that can lead to poor eye health and loss of vision

#2 Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 toxic chemicals that enter your eyes & increase your risk of sight loss by up to four times

#3 Tobacco chemicals damage the tiny blood vessels inside your eyes causing blockages and internal bleeding

#4 Tobacco chemicals interfere with the production of your tears – the tear film is important because it keeps the front of your eye healthy and helps your eyes focus clearly

#5 Smoking causes oxidative stress and damages your retina

#6 Tobacco reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your macula. The macula is the part of the eye responsible for central, high-resolution vision

#7 Smoking is a key risk factor for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the UK’s leading cause of blindness in the UK

#8 Research published in the British Medical Journal[6] suggests 1 in 5 cases of AMD are caused by tobacco consumption

#9 On average smokers develop AMD five years earlier than non-smokers

#10 Smoking is a major risk factor in the development of cataracts

#11 The risk of nuclear cataracts is three times greater in smokers than non-smokers

#12 Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the top five causes of sight loss in the UK

#13 Smoking increases your risk of dry eye syndrome – the leading cause of eye irritation in over 65s

#14 Smoking is associated with the development of thyroid eye disease (TED). Smokers are up to 8 times more likely to suffer from this potentially sight threatening condition which affects up to 400,000 people in UK[7]

#15 Smokers have increased prevalence of colour vision deficiency

#16 Nicotine poisoning can make it difficult to clearly distinguish colours with a red or green hue

#17 Smokers are twice as likely to suffer Uveitis – a painful inflammation of the middle layer of the eye ­– than non-smokers

#18 Smoking increases the risk of contact lens wearers suffering corneal ulcers. If left untreated corneal ulcers can lead to severe vision loss and even loss of the eye

#19 Smoking in pregnancy affects the development of your unborn baby and increases the risk of your child having a squint

#20 It’s not just your eyes that suffer. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of your loved-ones suffering sight loss

For help and advice on how to quit visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree

[1] www.nhs.uk/smokefree

[2] British Medical Journal, Vol. 328, S. 537

[3] Calculated using Macular Society AMD prevalence data

[4] Perceptions of blindness related to smoking: a hospital- based cross-sectional study, G Bidwell et al.

[5] Ronald Klien et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(1): 115-121

[6] British Medical Journal, Vol. 328, S. 537

[7] Estimate taken from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

Published : 25 September 2016