Vision Express & Healthy Eyes Awareness Week

This January, Vision Express, one of Ireland’s most trusted opticians, is supporting Healthy Eyes Awareness Week, which takes place from Monday, 15^th January until Sunday, 21^st January 2018. ‘Healthy Eyes’ is an annual nationwide awareness initiative encouraging people to have regular eye tests and take care of their eye health.

Having an eye test every two years is as essential as regular trips to the dentist, say optical experts. Adults and their children should ‘pledge to have an eye test’ every two years to ensure they protect their vision as part of their normal health routine. That’s the message of the Healthy Eyes Awareness campaign, which is being supported by the ten Vision Express stores across Ireland, and led by the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) Ireland.

Healthy Eyes encourages everyone who has not had their eyes checked in the past two years to visit their local Vision Express store for an eye test. Information and promotions will be available in Vision Express stores nationwide and optometrists will be on hand to offer advice and tips.

Director of Professional Services, Jay Ghadiali, said: “We encourage everyone to have regular eye tests at least once every two years, to ensure good eye health. An eye exam is not just to determine if you need glasses or contact lenses, it is a vital health check for conditions that can lead to the detection of serious eye conditions.

“There is an increasing prevalence of sight-related problems due to an ageing population here in Ireland, and what is most important, is early diagnosis. Our optometrists at Vision Express can provide you with care, advice or even reassurance, fitting glasses or contact lenses, treating of routine conditions, or monitoring an existing condition.”

FODO Ireland Director, Ann Blackmore, said: “Our research shows that over half of people in Ireland have not had an eye exam in the last two years, which is the recommended period between check-ups. If at any stage people notice changes in the appearance of the eye, pain or discomfort they should see their local optical practice without delay. We also encourage people to engage with the campaign through the healthy eyes website www.health-eyes.ie and the Twitter page @healthyeyes2018.”

Healthy Eyes is committed to raising awareness and highlighting the need for regular eye exams among all age groups. Healthy Eyes is encouraging all Irish people to pledge to have an eye test not only during the month of January, but regularly throughout their life.

For more information, please visit www.visionexpress.ie, or follow Vision Express on Twitter or on Instagram or like Vision Express on Facebook