Stockton North MP, Alex Cunningham is helping to raise awareness of the importance of eye health and the need for everyone to have sight checks every two years to look after their eyes by backing National Eye Health Week which takes place between 17 – 23 September.
Twenty million people across the UK fail to have their eyes checked once every two years, as recommend, and one in 10 have never had an eye examination.
However sight tests are an important health check. The early stages of many eye diseases show no symptoms, so that, by the time symptoms manifest themselves, the disease may already be advanced. But if detected early enough, many eye conditions, such as glaucoma, one of the main causes of sight loss, can be treatable.
Alex said:
“I am delighted to support National Eye Health Week. I encourage all my constituents to find out how they can look after their eye health and to ensure they have their eye health checked by going for a sight test every two years.
“Sight is the sense people fear losing the most, yet many of us don’t know the best way to look after our eyes. This is why it is so important you get your eye health tested every two years even if you think your vision is fine as some eye conditions may not show symptoms.”