Why are regular eye examinations so important?
It's easy to neglect your eyes because they often don't hurt when there's a problem.
The most important thing you can do to look after your eyes is to have a regular NHS-funded eye examination at a community optometry practice (opticians), even if you’re not worried about your vision.
Free NHS-funded eye examinations are available in Scotland to all UK residents, refugees, asylum seekers and some eligible overseas visitors. Please remember to phone ahead and book an appointment before attending a community optometry practice.
If you’re unable to travel unaccompanied because of a physical or mental illness or disability, you can arrange to have a home visit. Contact a community optometry practice to get help in arranging this.
The optometrist examining your eyes will check your vision. You may need glasses or contact lenses to see better, prevent eye strain or to reach the legal requirements for driving or other occupations.
An eye examination helps detect eye problems and signs of other significant health conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and, in rare cases, brain tumours) before they become more serious. The optometrist can refer you for any further help you need, including to an ophthalmologist in the hospital eye service if clinically appropriate.
Another important reason to have a regular eye examination, particularly as you get older, is to help prevent the risk of falls and thus help maintain your independence. NHS Inform has some useful information on preventing falls, including specific information relating to how looking after your vision and hearing can help with this.
Further information on free NHS-funded eye examinations can be found in the "Your Guide to free NHS eye examinations in Scotland" leaflet, as well as on NHS Inform which also enables you to search for an optometry practice in your area.
Further information on eye conditions and looking after your eyes can be found on the Look After Your Eyes website.
What else can you do to look after your eyes?
- Give up smoking
Smokers are much more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (which is the most common cause of sight loss in the UK) and cataracts than non-smokers.
Further information and support for those looking to give up smoking can be found on NHS Inform.
- Drink within the recommended limit
Heavy alcohol consumption may increase the risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration.
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level:
- men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
- spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
- if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week.
Further information and support for those looking to reduce their alcohol consumption can be found on NHS Inform.
- Protect your eyes from the sun
Getting out in the sun is important for your general health, but you need to protect yourself.
Never look at the sun directly, even when something exciting such as an eclipse is happening. Doing so can cause irreversible damage to your eyesight and even lead to blindness. Several studies also suggest sunlight exposure is a risk factor for cataracts.
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat or sunglasses can help protect your eyes from UV rays. The College of Optometrists recommends buying good-quality dark sunglasses – these needn't be expensive.
Look for glasses carrying either the CE or UKCA mark, or the British Standard BS EN ISO ISO 12312-1:2022, which ensures they offer a safe level of ultraviolet protection.
- Noticing changes in your child’s vision
Children often don't complain about their vision, but they may show signs of being unable to see properly.
Things to look out for include:
- sitting close to the TV
- holding objects very close to their face
- blinking a lot
- eye rubbing
- one eye turning in or out.
If you think your child is having any problems with their vision, contact a community optometry practice for further investigation.
Children don't have to be able to read letters to have their eyes examined, and all children aged under 16 are entitled to a free NHS-funded eye examination every year and help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses.
Children also have their vision tested before they start primary school under the See4School programme, which is different from a regular NHS-funded eye examination.