Edinburgh residents short-sighted about eye health

National optician Vision Express is urging Edinburgh residents to take better care of their eye health, after a visit to the city revealed:

• All visitors to the van were overdue an eye test
• 80% had outdated prescriptions, potentially cause long-term damage to their sight

Members of the public were invited to take advantage of the national optical retailer’s free eye test offer on board its Vision Van when it stopped off at Fort Kinnaird.

One of the visitors to the state-of-the-art Vision Van during its tour was 74-year-old local Peggy Black (above). Peggy said “I think the van is a great idea. It’s amazing how many people won’t make the effort to book an eye test but when something catches your eye like this- you make the most of it.

“I think the van is a great way to reach out to the public. It’s a great start to encourage people to look after their eyes.”

Another visitor to the Vision Van was Scott Wells. Admitting to not having had an eye test for 10 years, Scott (below) said: “I’ve only ever had my eyes tested through work, but I definitely think that people should get their eyes tested more regularly.”

Jonathan Lawson, Vision Express CEO, commented: “Our Vision Van continues to receive a fantastic response from the public but it’s concerning that, despite the fact that eye tests are free in Scotland, we saw a worrying neglect for eye health in Edinburgh, with all visitors to the van admitting to being overdue an eye test.

“The findings highlight the need for a health initiative like this, especially as 80% of those overdue for an eye test were walking around with outdated prescriptions.”