Vision Van hits the road for National Eye Health Week

For the fourth consecutive year, Vision Express will be targeting eye health hotspots this National Eye Health Week (18-24 September 2017), in its Vision Van, aiming to improve the nation’s worsening outlook for eye health. As an official partner of National Eye Health Week 2017 and with the support of its charity partners, Vision Express will be visiting areas with a high propensity for sight-related problems and health conditions, offering free sight tests on board its high-tech mobile testing unit.

Joining the Vision Van as it stops in Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Swindon and Cardiff will be ambassadors from the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust, Macular Society, International Glaucoma Association and the Stroke Association. Areas have been targeted based on lifestyle factors including prevalence of smoking, and poor nutrition alongside higher than average statistics surrounding eye conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. The first stop on the national optical retailer’s tour will be its home city of Nottingham. In addition to providing comprehensive 30-minute eye tests to those passing by the Market Square on Monday 18 September, Vision Express’ experts will also spread the message around the importance of maintaining regular sight checks for both healthy vision and overall wellbeing.

Vision Express will also be highlighting the key themes of the 2017 awareness campaign relating to myopia, children’s eye health, eye care in your 40s, sight after 60, glaucoma, how to be screen smart, UV protection, nutrition and smoking.

Vision Express CEO, Jonathan Lawson, explains “We’re once again taking our Vision Van on the road to help share the message of how important an eye test is in detecting sight defects, eye-related conditions and other health problems. We know that people fear blindness more than any other sense loss, with one survey finding that 76 per cent of people would rather lose a limb than their sight. And, we’re very aware that affordability is an issue for many, with 37 per cent of people putting off having an eye test due to cost concern, so we want to help. By taking the eye test to the people, we can target areas where there is a worsening outlook for eye health and anyone who can’t get to the Van can download a free eye test voucher.”

David Cartwright, Chairman of National Eye Health Week comments: “Almost 14 million of us are putting our eye health at risk by failing to have regular eye tests. The Vision Van is a great initiative, helping to spread the word about the importance of regular eye tests and encouraging some of those most at risk of avoidable sight loss to take steps to keep their eyes and vision healthy.”