Member Article

Vision matters -why those high street eye tests are crucial

Vision matters…

It may seem like campaigners are stating the blindingly obvious for National Eye Health Week (Sept 24-30) until you take a closer look at the statistics.**

Two million people In the UK live with sight loss severe enough to have a significant impact on their daily lives.

Half of that sight loss is/was avoidable through lifestyle changes to reduce the risks – ceasing smoking, eatlng a healthier diet and more.

Simply factoring in a regular eye test with a high street optometrist as a matter of routine – rather than waiting for symptoms to develop - could help flag up early signs of potential issues or underlying problems. For many, tests are funded by NHS. For others, baulking at the price of an eye test could prove the ultimate false economy.

The economic impact of sight loss is often overlooked – yet many quit work or find it harder to find employment. Loved ones stepping in to help may end up reducing their hours of employment or quitting work too.

Social mobility is a huge issue. The freedom to travel without relying on others can be hard won by those still struggling to find the confidence to step out, cane-enabled.

Back in 2016 the RNIB and Specsavers looked at both the direct and indirect cost of sight loss (based on 2013 figures) and put it at about £3bn through NHS expenditure and £25.1bn through loss of health and wellbeing - about £5.65bn associated mainly with lower employment and unpaid care.

And those figures are more than likely to have risen since – with the attendant increase in sight loss through age related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, stroke and more.

It’s estimated that the number of people living with sight loss will increase by 33 per cent between now and 2030. That’s 2.7m. It’s driven by the increase in the UK’s older population – but people are working for longer too.

In Lancashire, N-Vision, the Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Society for the Blind, supports 2500 people living with sight loss across the three boroughs. They come from all walks of life.

That’s just under 0.13 per cent of the two million people affected in the UK.

Chat to some and they will tell you how they tried to hide their failing sight from employers – for fear of losing their jobs.

“I had a mortgage to pay,” says one, who worked as a painter and decorator – until he could no longer distinguish white from magnolia.

Linda Sethi, eye clinic liaison officer for the charity, a role part funded by both Blackpool and Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups, says: “A sight test every two years is our most valuable ally in the fight against sight loss, eye disease and several other conditions.

“It can detect early signs of glaucoma, which can be treated if found soon enough, diabetes, high blood pressure, even tumours.

“We think nothing of going to the dentist for a check-up - we need to make sight tests part of our health routine.

“Some can do very little about losing their sight particularly in late life. There may be genetic factors for others. But tests can pick up other things that may affect whatever vision you have left – such as cataracts or other issues. “

Linda divides her time between the charity, based at Squires Gate, Blackpool, and the eye clinic, medical retina, orthoptic services and ophthalmology at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

She is there to catch people before they fall into despair at the diagnosis of a life changing eye condition or when newly certified as severely sight impaired (blind) or partially sighted.

Linda guides them through the dark days of “what next?”

Specialist medics admit it’s the question they are least qualified to answer.

Mr Shreyas Raj, full time consultant ophthalmic surgeon and head of the department of Ophthalmology at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, explains: “Although we talk to patients and give them some explanation and the nurses talk to them they do need someone to go through the condition, the issues it causes, how they can be helped where there is no treatment, or after treatment is given. Thanks to Linda it is taken care of. Her role is crucial.”

Mr Raj performs cataract and refractive surgery and oculoplastic surgery including periocular tumour management and reconstruction.

He’s already saved the sight of a colleague. “I was starting to do multi focal lens implant surgery and offered it to him. The results were so good he was able to continue his work extremely well. “

And when did he last have his own eyes tested?

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. A couple of years ago? Doctors are not good patients. They always think it will never happen to me…“

As an allied health professional working alongside doctors and nurses Cath Gray, orthoptic services manager, has worked within the NHS for 30 years and remains as passionate about it as the day she joined.

“I couldn’t be happier in my work choice. I wasn’t bright enough to be a doctor, I didn’t want to go down the commercial path – it would have paid more but put me under more commercial pressure. More optometrists wanting to join us.

“Orthoptic addressed all the passion I had, working in a hospital setting – I personally thrive on that.”

Cath urges parents to get their children’s eyes tested at high street opticians or ask their GP for help if they think something is amiss.

“It’s NHS funded so won’t cost you a penny yet could really help your child’s sight and their quality of life.

“Glasses are great these days, optometrists access really fabulous frames and that plays a huge part in compliance for us – because children are happy to wear them.

“A lot are happy to wear the eye patches too because they look like pirates – we have Pirates of the Caribbean to thank for that.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jacqui Morley .