Despite these concerning figures from the 2016 census, new research from Specsavers revealed as many as one in six people have neglected to have their eyes tested in the last three years.
Specsavers Echuca optometrist Thuan Tu said the research indicates many Echuca residents aren’t placing enough emphasis on their eye health.
“There are 8023 people living in Echuca that are over the age of 40, and we know that our optometrists have only seen 4484 in the last two years. That means there could be as many as 3539 people in the area that are living life in a blur that don’t need to be,” he explained.
“The research has revealed that as many as four in 10 people have had a headache or struggled to read a menu when out for dinner, one in three have felt that their vision was going blurry and more than 642 over the age of 40 say they have bought the wrong item because they either couldn’t read or they misread the label. The majority of these instances can be prevented with an eye test and prescription glasses or contact lenses.”
“I’m not surprised by these statistics as a lot of people don’t want to admit that their vision is just not what it used to be. I’ve had many patients that have been in this situation, but once they start wearing glasses or contact lenses and see the difference it makes in their day to day lives, they wished they’d come in sooner.”
Tu said presbyopia is a common problem for people over 40 with the natural condition affecting one’s ability to focus up close but said glasses are an effective way of treating it.
“From around the age of 40, the natural lens within the eye which allows us to see clearly up close and far away naturally starts to lose its elasticity, affecting our ability to focus at near. Many of my patients who never needed glasses when they were younger find that they need reading glasses as they get older.”
“Presbyopia is something that affects almost everyone. Depending on your needs and lifestyle, it may be that all you need is a pair of prescription reading glasses, multifocal or contact lenses to make reading easier. Your optometrist will be able to make a recommendation on the best option for you and your lifestyle.”
“At the end of the day, it’s 2020, the year of clear vision and we’re calling on all Echuca residents over the age of 40 to commit to taking care of their eyes this year and book an appointment with an optometrist because why live life in a blur?”
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