Member Article

Eye health on the agenda as Vision Express Vision Van visits Manchester

Mobile eye testing unit hits the road for Love Your Lenses Week, after a third of Brits admit to routinely sleeping with their contact lenses in

Results from the Vision Van stop in Manchester reveal: • 93% were overdue an eye test • 59% required a new prescription • 33% had not had an eye examination since passing their driving test.

Manchester residents are being warned of the dangers of not maintaining regular eye tests after visiting the Vision Express Vision Van when it stopped off at the intu Trafford Centre on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 March.

The high-tech mobile testing vehicle set up shop for two days as part of a UK tour to mark Love Your Lenses Week (24-30 March), offering the public free eye tests and a five-day trial for contact lenses.

It was revealed that 93% of those who visited the van in Manchester were overdue an eye test and 59% were walking around with the wrong prescription. A third of those tested had not had an eye examination since passing their driving test.

The aim of the Vision Van tour is to educate wearers on the best way to care for their lenses and the many benefits of wearing contacts, as well as the importance of getting your eyes tested regularly.

Jay Anderson, 24, who visited the van on the Wednesday, admitted she had not had her eyes tested for several years. “I’ve been thinking about doing it for ages,” she explains. “I’ve been really struggling in lectures at university, so when I saw the sign for a free test I jumped at the chance.”

Jay, a student nurse, was found to be short-sighted and was issued a prescription to help with her driving and general distance vision. “I’d never tried contact lenses before, but the optometrist asked me if I wanted to,” she says.

“After only a couple of minutes, I really couldn’t tell I’d got them in so it’s definitely something I’ll consider for the future. I’m really glad I came onto the van. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I’d urge anyone thinking of having an eye test to go ahead and book one. Your eyes are only going to get worse if you don’t.”

Another visitor to the van, 32-year-old Claire Johnson says her experience was a very pleasant one. “I was a little apprehensive as it had been ten years since I had last had my eyes tested,” she says.

“In fact, the last time I went, I fainted because I just wasn’t prepared. This was completely different, and I was absolutely fine. The staff were lovely and, thankfully, there aren’t any problems. It’s important to get your eyes tested regularly even if you don’t feel or see any visible changes. I’m really glad I plucked up the courage to go onto the van today.”

New research has revealed that nearly one in ten of Britain’s nearly four million contact lens wearers are failing to take their vision seriously by admitting they don’t have a care routine at all, with 65% admitting to routinely forgetting to remove their lenses and 50% confessing they’ve let their lens care lapse after a night out.

Optometrist and director of professional services at Vision Express, Jay Ghadiali said: “It was fantastic to have the Vision Van in Manchester today during Love Your Lenses Week to help raise awareness of the importance of regular eye tests amongst our residents.

“The benefits of wearing contact lenses are huge and the risks very small, but the need to educate British contact lens wearers on aftercare is critical as this is what can lead to infection or long-term issues for wearers.

“We’re very proud to support Love Your Lenses Week. The eye health of our customers and their families is our absolute priority.”

CooperVision Brand Manager for the UK & Ireland, Liz Uzzell, said: “The Vision Van creates a big impact with the public and the level of instrumentation onboard is impressive. Taking the consulting room into the street is really helping to drive awareness of Love Your Lenses Week across the UK. The levels of enthusiasm, engagement and interaction about contact lenses and the importance of regular eye health checks have been very high.”

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