Campaigns

Older people and eye tests - Eye Test Action Day 2007

Summary: Eye Test Action Day 2007 focuses on the importance of eye tests in people over the age of 60.

• Raising awareness
• Older people and eye tests report
• Eye health
• Further information
• Information for journalists

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Six million older people in the UK are needlessly risking their sight by not having regular eye tests. Sight loss is no longer an unavoidable consequence of ageing. Many conditions could be prevented or treated if caught early enough. Yet a shocking 47 per cent of people over 60 fail to have their eyes tested regularly.

Age is the highest risk factor in developing some of the most common eye conditions (AMD, glaucoma and cataracts) that can lead to blindness. By the time we're 60, one in 12 of us will have developed a sight problem, by the time we are 75 it is as many as one in six.

Raising awareness

Eye Test Action Day 2007 is raising awareness amongst older people encouraging them to take up regular eye tests as an important eye health check.

Our report entitled 'Older people and eye tests - Don't let age rob you of your sight' shares the findings of a survey of 5,000 people over the age of 60. It reveals that almost two thirds of people aged 60 to 69, one third of people aged 70 to 85 and one quarter of those aged over 85 do not have annual eye tests.

An eye test can detect eye disease before any effects on sight and before any major damage is done. For example, early-stage glaucoma has no symptoms. 40 per cent of sight can be lost before realising something is wrong. Regular eye tests also help avoid sight problems caused by incorrect prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses, as well as detecting easily treatable cataracts, both major causes of severe sight loss in people over 75.

The survey suggests three main reasons why older people are not having regular eye tests:

• a lack of awareness that regular eye tests are important even if people aren't experiencing problems with their eyes
• the cost of glasses
• problems with transport.

In order to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye tests as an essential eye health check, RNIB, supported by Boots Opticians, are advertising in around 20 national press titles and consumer magazines. This includes advertisements in the Daily Telegraph, Top Santé and Saga Magazine.

We are also calling on the governments of all countries in the UK as well as stakeholders to fund effective eye health promotion activities targeted at older people. These should be designed to help individuals understand their own increased risk of eye disease and the fact that a lack of symptoms of sight loss does not equate to healthy eyes. We hope that this would result in older people taking action by having a regular sight test.

Older people and eye tests report

The full report 'Older people and eye tests - Don't let age rob you of your sight' is available to download:

• Older people and eye tests (Word)
• Older people and eye tests (PDF)

Eye health

An eye test is not just about whether or not you need glasses. Opticians can detect problems with your eyes even if you haven't been experiencing problems with your sight.

78-year-old Ron Smith from Nottingham, went for an eye test to check if he needed stronger reading glasses and was surprised when his optometrist told him he had raised pressure in his right eye. His daughter said "Dad insisted there was nothing wrong with his sight and was reluctant to go to the eye specialist his optometrist had referred him to. Thankfully I persuaded him to go, because when he did he was diagnosed with the early stages of glaucoma. He now uses special drops once a day, which stop the progress of this, and his sight is just as good as it's always been"

RNIB recommends that everyone over the age of 60 should have an annual eye test. People in their sixties are entitled to a free eye test every two years (or more frequently if recommended by an optometrist). Eye tests are free annually for people aged 70 and over.

Find out more about getting an eye test.

Further information

For further information about eye tests call RNIB's Helpline on 0845 766 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk

Information for journalists

An Eye Test Action Day press release has been prepared. Please contact the RNIB Press Centre on 020 7391 2223 or email presscentre@rnib.org.uk for further information about the campaign.

Back to Eliminating avoidable sight loss campaign

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 08/04/2008 18:38