Professor Jeremy Guggenheim
Optometrist and Researcher, Fight for Sight
Registered – Charity number: 1111438 | fightforsight.org.uk
Vision is the sense people fear losing the most. Yet, 5 million people in the UK have never had an eye test, and a quarter haven’t had one in over three years. Worldwide, some 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable. Fight for Sight exists to: Save Sight. Change Lives.
Q: I don’t wear glasses. Should I still get an eye test?
Prof Jeremy Guggenheim (JG): Have a regular eye test (at least every two years) even if you aren’t wearing glasses. Regular testing can prevent or limit the damage caused by certain eye conditions. For example, early detection of glaucoma can reduce the risk of irreversible vision loss. If you have a parent or sibling with glaucoma, the advice is to have an eye test once a year (the NHS will cover the test fee). Regular eye tests are also advisable for people who have diabetes to spot early signs of diabetic retinopathy, a sight-threatening complication of diabetes.
Opticians also offer additional tests, including optical coherence tomography (OCT)tests. OCT tests generate an image of the back of your eye (retina) and can identify early signs of eye disease, including age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes-related retinopathy. An eye test can also reveal early symptoms of diabetes, brain tumours, heart disease, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and other conditions.
Q: Is there any truth in carrots being good for your eyesight? Can certain foods improve your eye health?
JG: Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, which is good for your eyes, but many other foods are known to support good eye health. Include nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamins C and E in your diet. Recommended foods include green leafy vegetables, oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, avocados, eggs and citrus fruits. There is emerging evidence of the link between diet and age-related macular degeneration — the leading cause of blindness in the UK. Some research suggests that certain supplements can slow down the progression of the disease.
Have a regular eye test (at least every two years) even if you aren’t wearing glasses.
Q: Can exercise improve good eye health?
JG: Exercise is good for your general health and could also support eye health. For example, being overweight is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of a condition called diabetic retinopathy, a sight-threatening complication of diabetes and the most common cause of vision loss for people living with diabetes. Alongside a healthy diet, regular exercise decreases your risk of diabetes. Studies show that regular exercise may lower the risk of other eye conditions, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
Fight for Sight is a registered charity that exists to: ‘Save Sight. Change Lives.’ Visit fighforsight.org.uk for more information or to support our work.
Do you have questions about your eye health? Click here to receive a FREE Mythbuster on looking after your eyesight at www.fightforsight.org.uk/mythbusters
