OLDER people in employment at Newtown and Welshpool are being urged to make their eye health a priority as pension entitlement ages increase.

This week is National Eye Health Week with an emphasis on eye health risks for the ageing workforce. Latest figures show around 5,,800 people over the age of 65 are still working in Powys but one in four of them (1,450 people) are not getting their eyes tested regularly meaning that conditions such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts may not be detected early, which could have an impact on their life and work.

That is why Specsavers is teaming up with sight loss charity, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), to urge Britain’s ageing workforce to take their eye health seriously.

With that in mind Specsavers stores at Newtown and Welshpool. as well as Brecon, are offering free sight tests to encourage more people to prioritise their eye health, during National Eye Health Week which ends this Sunday, September 30.

Last week the Welsh Government also announced a £million investment in eye care and Specsavers director Clare Corcoran commented: “Receiving a swift diagnosis and treatment for an eye condition can mean the difference between someone’s sight being lost or saved, so the government’s plans to invest £4m into Welsh eye care services is greatly welcomed.

“Wales is leading the way in developing eye health initiatives and Specsavers is pleased to support this by encouraging all of its optometrists to become Wales Eye Care Service (WECS) accredited and to undergo extensive training, so that more people in Wales can benefit from the vital eye care services right on their doorstep.”

To coincide with Eye Health Week, Dave Myers, one of the Hairy Bikers chefs, has been talking about his own experiences when an unsuspected roblem had serious repercussions. He encouraging people to have their eyes tested more regularly with his interview accessible at https://we.tl/t-IMe4EyGJv1

Dave, 61, discovered he had a serious eye condition that could have had a huge impact on his career, and says: “I was shocked when I found out that I’d developed glaucoma when I was just 51. Thankfully it was spotted during a routine eye test but if it had gone unnoticed, I could have gone blind, and that would have had a huge impact on how I do the job I love so much.

‘Like so many people, my career is my passion and it’s so hard to be able to imagine doing all the things I love to do if I couldn’t see, whether it’s riding my bike, reading an autocue or preparing ingredients. The thought that I could have lost my sight is really scary. As we get older lots of things need closer attention, not least our eyes,” said Dave.

Lowri Evans, director at Specsavers Welshpool, says: ‘Eye health is important for people of all ages but even more so for those aged 65 and above, due to an increased risk of developing age-related conditions. In a time where we have an ageing population and an older retirement age, it’s vital that eye health is given the same priority as other physical illnesses. Many conditions can be effectively managed if identified and treated quickly, which is why this National Eye Health Week we’re encouraging everyone, particularly the 65s and over, to book an eye test and ensure their eye health is checked.’

Research shows there are already 13,650 people with preventable sight loss conditions of AMD, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy in Powys.

Sight is the nation’s most precious sense by far; 10 , but almost a quarter of people are ignoring the first signs of sight loss; despite complaining of not being able to see properly 23% of people have not visited an optician. More than 80percent of people are not aware that an optician can spot the early signs of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the UK

Ansley Workman, director of RNIB Cymru, is in agreement and says: ‘Early detection is vital in the management and successful treatment of many conditions, and regular eye tests are key. With people living longer and healthier lives, looking after our eyes becomes even more important, ensuring we can continue to work and live our lives to the full.’

Specsavers at Newtown and Welshpool have invested in staff training to protect local residents’ sight and tackle the growing problem which comes with an ageing population. It has done this by ensuring Specsavers stores in Powys are Wales Eye Care Services (WECS) accredited and have at least one fully trained RNIB Ambassador in each store. These RNIB Ambassadors are members of Specsavers staff who have undergone training to complement the optometrist’s skills to ensure whoever a customer first sees in-store is sympathetic to their eye care needs.

For more information on your nearest store or to book an eye test, visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores.

DAVE Myers is pictured at one of the eye tests available.