THE mayor of Bridport has backed a call for more residents to look after their eyes.

Cllr Anne Rickard was invited to Specsavers to help raise awareness of the importance of eye health for National Eye Week, an annual event that aims to put eye health on the agenda.

Independent research commissioned by Specsavers and the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) shows people are more likely to have their boiler serviced than their eyes tested. 

Keen to support awareness in Bridport was Chris Newall, optical director of Specsavers, who invited Bridport mayor Cllr Rickard to the store.

Mr Newall said: "The report shows that one in five people will live with sight loss in their lifetime despite at least half of all cases being avoidable. Our research also shows that every day, 250 people start to lose their sight in the UK. Women, who tend to live longer, are at greater risk than men, with one in four women set to develop sight loss in their lifetime compared with one in eight men."

Almost six million people in the UK currently live with sight-threatening conditions yet 25 per cent of people are not having an eye test every two years as recommended by the College of Optometrists. The extent of the problem means that nearly every family in Britain is touched by sight problems in some way.

Mr Newall says eye tests can determine other health problems.
He added: "More than 80 per cent of people are not aware that an optician can spot the early signs of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the UK."

Cllr Rickard said: "It was a pleasure to visit the Specsavers team to help highlight the importance of eye health. We often take our eyesight for granted, but looking after our eyes is so important as changes to our vision can be very gradual, and someone may only notice a problem once serious damage has already been done. 

"This visit has certainly 'opened my eyes' and I want to encourage everyone to avail themselves of the expertise we are fortunate to have available to us locally."