The organiser of National Eye Health Week (NEHW) is inviting everyone in optics to support this year’s awareness campaign (23-29 September 2024) and help spread the word on eye health.
National Eye Health Week is the biggest and most effective independent public eye health campaign in the UK, sharing important eyecare advice with tens of millions of people every year. However, there are still many in optics “who are missing the opportunity to join the conversation and shout about the vital role eyecare practitioners play in keeping Britain healthy”, says organiser Eye Health UK
David Cartwright, chair of Eye Health UK, said: “Good eyecare is essential for good general health, yet awareness of its importance remains low across important groups, including the public and policy-makers. Far too many people don’t currently access primary eyecare services and continue to adopt lifestyle habits that needlessly increase their risk of living with sight loss or poor eye health.
“NEHW provides a unique platform to put eyecare at the heart of the NHS’s prevention programme, ensuring early detection of disease and encouraging individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices. If the entire sector joined forces to raise the profile of optics, we could ensure important messages about eyecare get heard and help make a positive difference to the state of the nation’s eye health. In-fact, it could be a real game-changer for optics.”
Details about the daily themes and some exciting new initiatives launching for NEHW 2024 will be unveiled in the spring. In the meantime, the charity has suggested five ways individuals and organisations can start preparing for this important awareness-raising week:
1. Save the date: put 23-29 September in the diary and get ready to spread the word on eye health.
2. Register for free resources: email your name, business name and contact details to info@visionmatters.org.uk to register to receive a free promotional toolkit.
3. Follow and share on social media: join the conversation on your social channels by following Instagram @NationalEyeHealthWeek Twitter @myvisionmatters & Facebook @NationalEyeHealthWeek.
4. Become an official partner: larger organisations interested in a official partnership programme should contact rachel@visionmatters.org.uk
5. Donate: The scale, scope and reach of the Week relies on financial backing from the sector and other third parties as no public funds are currently available to support the initiative (although securing public funding is one of the charity’s medium-term ambitions).
Making a contribution is easy. Simply click the voluntary levy button on your PCSE Online account and ‘Opt in’ to the Eyecare Trust voluntary levy scheme. Alternatively, contact rachel@visionmatters.org.uk for details about making a one-off donation.