Member Article

International Glaucoma Association raises awareness of ‘silent thief of sight’ during Uxbridge optician relaunch

After a quarter of a century in Uxbridge, Vision Express officially relaunched its High Street store, with help from the International Glaucoma Association (IGA), a nominated charity of the national optician.

The Uxbridge store, which has been on the same site for over 25 years, has re-opened following an extensive refurbishment. With combined optical experience of over 45 years with Vision Express, the team welcomed three new members of staff this summer. In light of the store upgrade, a new pre-reg trainee has also been appointed.

Subhash Suthar, a business development manager at the IGA, was guest of honour at the relaunch event, which included the grand unveiling of the national optician’s new state-of-the-art facilities. He also gave a presentation on glaucoma and the treatments available for those suffering from the condition, after which he demonstrated the different aids available to administer eye drops.

One of the biggest causes of preventable sight loss worldwide, glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye conditions in which the main nerve to the eye (the optic nerve) is damaged where it leaves the eye. This nerve carries information about what is being seen from the eye to the brain and, as it becomes damaged, vision is lost. An estimated 600,000 people in the UK have glaucoma, yet research indicates half of those are undiagnosed.

“Glaucoma is a long-term, chronic disease which is mostly symptomless – sometimes referred to as a silent thief of sight,” explained Subhash. “It is a condition many people are unaware of so it’s great to be able to raise awareness with Vision Express.

“I was delighted to be asked to help open the newly refurbished Uxbridge store and provide the team with guidance on treatment, so they can better support their customers who have been diagnosed with glaucoma.”

The IGA has been a charity partner of Vision Express since 2015 and together they work to raise awareness of the importance of eye tests in the early detection of glaucoma, so that more people with the condition can be treated.

Vision Express Uxbridge store manager, Anika Upadhyah said: “We were delighted that Subhash took time to help us launch our newly refurbished store. It was really interesting to learn more about glaucoma and the IGA. Subhash was really passionate and we all found it extremely informative, learning new information and skills, which can be used on not only to help our customers, but our relatives as well.

“We’re very excited to unveil our new-look store to the local community and we look forward to continuing to offer a high level of service with our upgraded facilities and state-of-the-art examining equipment.”

Vision Express offers an eye test to best practice guidelines of the College of Optometrists (COO), with each Vision Express optometrist being a qualified eye health professional. To book an eye test at the Uxbridge store call 01895 231261, visit 58 High St, Uxbridge UB8 1JP.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Vision Express .