RNIB NI sows the seeds of good Eye Health to Thousands at Country Festival
Sight loss charity (The Royal National Institute of Blind People) RNIB in Northern Ireland, plough new ground with the charity’s eye health and sight loss prevention campaign at one of the biggest rural events in Northern Ireland this summer.
Taking place from 17 to 19 July, the three-day festival attracted around 30,000 visitors and featured Ireland's largest tractor pulling competition alongside live entertainment, family attractions, and monster truck displays.
Now in its third year, the Revvv It Up Festival once again chose RNIB NI as one of its two charity partners, alongside Pulmonary Fibrosis NI.
The event was founded by BRM Utilities founder Stephen Kealey, whose family has experienced first-hand the impact of sight loss after his mother Carmel Kealey received RNIB support following a macular degeneration diagnosis.
As part of RNIB NI's #EyeCareWeCare campaign, RNIB NI took full advantage of thousands who flocked to the festival, to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye tests and early intervention in preventing avoidable sight loss.
This year, visitors also had the opportunity to receive a free, basic 'vision check' at the RNIB NI stand, provided by qualified community optometrist Ben Armstrong and supported by Optometry NI.
The initiative was intended to reach people who may not routinely engage with eye health services, particularly those living in rural communities and members of the farming community, where regular eye examinations can often be overlooked despite their importance in detecting sight-threatening conditions at an early stage.
In the space of a few hours, optometrist Ben saw 12 people and the first two people seen on the day were discovered to have a possible sight-threatening condition that needed urgent referral to an eye clinic.
Ben Armstrong is a Community Optometrist and owner of Armstrong Opticians in Newcastle, County Down. Ben said: “It was great to be able to join RNIB NI at the Revvv It Up Festival in Dungiven to carry out basic vision checks with festival goers. The aim was to increase public awareness of good eye health and to answer any questions that visitors might have about their own vision. It was also a great opportunity to be able to talk about the role that community optometry plays within the health service and the wider eyecare pathway in Northern Ireland.
“So much of sight loss is avoidable and many conditions can be managed when diagnosed early by your optometrist. In our clinics, we aren’t just checking your vision, but we’re checking the overall health of your eye which allows the chance for early intervention and treatment where necessary. This is particularly important for eye conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration. We can get the jump on those conditions if we know about them sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, in my line of work, I see too many people finding out too late about eye problems, which can sometimes limit the treatment options available.
“As if to demonstrate the importance of timely eye tests, a few people I met early in the day, presented with symptoms that could indicate eye problems that definitely warranted further investigation at an eye clinic. So, I was relieved to be able to refer them straight to the Ophthalmology clinic at Algnagelvin Hospital.
"I can’t stress enough that whilst I was only there providing basic vision checks and advice, the importance of booking an eye test with your local community optometrist, cannot be overstated.”
Country Director of RNIB in Northern Ireland, Robert Shilliday, said: "This is why it's crucial to never ignore pain or sudden changes in your eyes or vision and to attend your eye appointments every two years.
"Revvv It Up gave us a unique opportunity to bring vital eye health messages directly to thousands of people from across Northern Ireland, particularly those living in rural areas. Regular eye tests play a crucial role in detecting eye conditions early, and a range of other health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, often before symptoms develop, and we want everyone to understand the importance of making eye health a priority."
Visit rnib.org.uk for information on RNIB services and support if you’re affected by sight loss.
If you wish to speak to someone about sight loss support, contact the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email [email protected].