Member Article

National Eye Health Week: September 23-29

HEALTH and wellbeing are high on the agenda for many UK businesses, but how many prioritise the health of employees’ eyes and sight? Evidence suggests our eye health is not something we pay close enough attention to as a quarter of people say they do not have their eyes checked every two years, despite provision of eye care being a health and safety requirement under many circumstances.

That is why this National Eye Health Week (September 23-29) Specsavers Corporate Eyecare is urging employers to take action. An eye test not only checks for changes in vision but can help prevent sight loss through early detection of conditions and even spot the symptoms of other health concerns such as brain tumours or problems with circulation.

Dr Nigel Best, Specsavers clinical spokesperson, says: ‘Vision is our most precious sense and the one people fear losing the most. It deserves care and regular attention. There has been significant advancement in opticians’ ability to help detect disease and every employer should be encouraging their employees to take advantage of the latest innovations at opticians.’

He adds: ‘Regular eye tests combined with some simple wellbeing habits can help reduce the risk of developing certain conditions and make it more likely that any problems are detected early.’ Here Dr Best shares some everyday habits everyone can adopt to help futureproof eye health.

Exercise It is common knowledge that exercise is good for overall health, but what is lesser known is that being active is good for the eyes too. Dr Best says: ‘Studies have shown that regular exercise, such as walking, can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 70% and it can also decrease the risk of cataracts too, so staying active is so important.’

The menopause There are a lot of changes taking place in a woman’s body when she reaches the menopause, and this can also affect the eyes. ‘Our hormones control the production of our tears and it is common for post-menopausal women to experience dry eye symptoms,’ says Dr Best. ‘If you experience dry, red or gritty eyes you should discuss this with your optometrist so they can advise you on the most appropriate treatment.’

Eating fish Eating plenty of fish which is high in omega 3 fatty acids can help with eye lubrication. Dr Best says: ’When an individual has a dry eye the surface of the eye becomes inflamed. This inflammation further damages the cells which are responsible for tear production, resulting in a vicious circle of increasing inflammation and dryness.

‘It is well documented that omega 3 essential fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects and therefore may offer some degree of protection against dry eye. A large epidemiological study in the USA found that women who consumed five servings of tuna per week were at a 68% reduced risk of suffering from dry eyes.’

Sleeping Sleep is a time for the body to rest and repair. So when we do not get enough it can be detrimental to our health. Dr Best says: ‘For instance, if you ever feel your eyelids twitching from time to time, you might be experiencing myokymia.’ Myokimia causes spasms which are often uncomfortable and distracting and can be caused by lack of sleep. ‘It’s essential that we all get enough sleep as it gives our bodies an opportunity to rest – including our eye muscles, which will help to stop them from twitching.’

Avocados

Avocados are a huge food trend, which is great news for our eyes. Dr Best says: ‘Not only are avocados rich in zinc and vitamin B which help stave off cataracts, but they also have a high amount of lutein. Research suggests lutein is a carotenoid which helps filter out blue light, helping to prevent age-related macular degeneration.’

Water Dehydration can cause symptoms of dry eye so it is really important that we are getting plenty of water throughout the day. Dr Best says: ‘When you lose more fluid than you take in, your body becomes dehydrated. Your eyes can become dry and irritated and you can even start to get slightly blurred vision because there are not enough tears to lubricate the eye. One of the ways to try and combat dry eyes is by rehydrating by drinking plenty of water. Your optician can also recommend eye drops that can help too.’

Make-up Going to bed with make-up still on is not only bad for the skin but it can also be harmful to the eyes. Dr Best says: ‘Leaving your eye makeup on when you go to sleep – particularly eyeliner and mascara – will increase your chances of getting bacterial and oil build up around your eyes or even inflammation. Make sure you always gently remove beauty products to reduce infection and keep your eyes clean.’ Likewise, it is also important to regularly wash your make-up brushes and ditch out of date products which could be harbouring bacteria.

Wash your hands Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses. Studies have shown that on average we carry 3,200 bacteria from around 150 species on our hands. So to then touch contact lenses and leave it in your eye for several hours a day will not be doing it any good and increases the change of infection.

Contact lens regime Caring for contact lenses properly is also key to reducing the risk of getting bacteria in the eye which makes it more prone to infection – and never leave them in to shower or swim. Dr Best says: ‘You should never sleep in your contact lenses unless they have been specifically fitted for use at night by your optician either. Although your bed may seem more appealing and it may be difficult to remember after a night out, always ensure you take your lenses out with thoroughly washed and dried hands.’

The role of the employer The eyes can reveal a lot about an individual’s health, so it is really important to have regular eye tests – once every two years, or more often if recommended by the optometrist. It is obligatory for employers to offer eye tests under many different health and safety regulations, for example, to meet with the Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations, or if employees are driving for work purposes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare .