Henry Leonard
Head of Clinical and Regulatory, Association of Optometrists
The cost of living can make eye health seem like a necessary sacrifice, but eye care should always be a priority.
When facing pressure to adjust our lifestyles to the rising cost of living, the prudent choice is to cut back to keep households afloat. However, your sight and eye health should never be neglected. Sight tests are vital, and going without can have long-term consequences.
Cost of living impact on eye health
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of people who wear glasses or contact lenses say they have put off going to an optometrist due to the cost of living, and 31% say they wear friends’ and family’s eyewear to avoid spending money on their own. However, help is available to access a funded NHS sight test and to purchase glasses, which is especially important during difficult financial times.
Demystifying the sight test
A sight test is adapted to an individual’s needs. Everyone should have one every two years — or more often if recommended by an optometrist. During a sight test, your optometrist checks what your vision is like when looking close up and to the distance, usually using charts to work out if glasses or a prescription change is needed. Sight tests are important because they can also detect signs of wider, underlying general health conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
If you fall within certain qualifying
groups, you could be eligible for
a fully funded NHS sight test.
Manageable costs
If you fall within certain qualifying groups, you could be eligible for a fully funded NHS sight test. This includes children under 16; those 18 or under in full-time education; people over 60; and those receiving certain means-tested benefits. In Scotland, anyone can receive an NHS-funded eye examination.
If you don’t qualify for an NHS sight test, your employer may be able to help if you use screens to work. Employers should provide funded eye care including a sight test and a contribution to the cost of glasses or contact lenses if you need a correction specifically for computer work.
Continuing to care for your eyes
In addition to regular sight tests, maintaining a healthy balanced diet which includes lots of omega-3 fats, dark-green leafy vegetables and Vitamins A, C and E may help reduce risk of eye disease. Making lifestyle choices that support your health can also make a difference.
Avoiding smoking benefits eye health; smoking increases the risk of developing eye diseases, such as cataracts. Family history is also helpful as many eye conditions run in families, so pre-existing knowledge of any problems can support early detection and treatment.
To learn more, visit aop.org.uk/costofliving
