Vision matters
Over 50 per cent of sight loss is avoidable in the UK.
National Eye Health Week will take place on 17 - 23 September 2012. It is a great opportunity to focus on your eye health and ensure you, and your friends and family, do not lose their sight unnecessarily.
Find out what people have planned and how you can get involved at the National Eye Health Week website
Deputy Prime Minister backs National Eye Health Week
"I am delighted to support the work of National Eye Health Week in promoting the importance of eye health. Many of us would be terrified at the thought of losing our sight, but we are not always aware of the best way to look after our eyes. National Eye Health Week is a great time to commit to having regular sight tests as part of our health routines. I recently took my children for their first sight test, and I would urge all parents to do the same."
Why it's important to look after your eyes
We all value our sight and it's the sense most people fear losing more than any other, but many of us don't actively look after our sight.
100 people a day start to lose their sight in the UK, but for many people this shouldn't be the case.
Who is at risk of sight loss?
Anyone can lose their sight and only a minority of people who are blind were born blind. Most blind and partially sighted people in the UK have actually lost their sight having once been sighted.
There are almost two million people in the UK living with sight loss. It can affect anyone at any time but losing our sight becomes increasingly likely as we get older.
Asian people have a greater risk of developing cataracts and diabetic eye disease compared to the rest of the population, while the risk of glaucoma is much higher for the black population.
How can I protect my sight?
Eye examination
The single most important thing you can do to protect your sight is attend a regular eye examination.
Your eyes might look great and your eyesight may be fine, but that doesn't mean your eyes are healthy. Many eye conditions have no early symptoms, so you many not know your sight is being damaged.
An eye test is the only way to see eye disease and when eye conditions are detected early the right type of treatment could save your sight.
Everyone should have an eye test at least every two years, but for those aged 70 and over it should be every year. For many people eye tests are free. Visit NHS Choices website to find an optician near you on.
Four simple steps to protect your sight
Find out more about looking after your sight between sight tests.