Surrey eye health provider backs new rules calling for regular eye tests for over 70s
A leading eye health care provider is supporting the importance of regular eye health checks, following the government’s announcement of new guidelines around road safety including drivers aged over 70 have eye tests every three years.
Optegra Eye Health Care which has a hospital in Guildford, Surrey, is encouraging everyone, and particularly those over 70, to take their eye health seriously and have a regular eye check-up to ensure optimum vision to improve quality of life, independence and also safety when driving.
Medical Director and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Optegra, Mr. Alastair Stuart, says: “We see so many patients who are feeling nervous about driving due to their poor vision. This can be at any age due to short-sightedness or long-sightedness, but it particularly affects our older patients who have cataracts.
“This is because this natural age-related clouding of the lens of the eye – which affects one in three adults over 65 - can lead to cloudy vision, muted colours and even blurred vision. In addition, an early symptom of cataract can be drivers and passengers noticing glare from other lights when driving at dusk or night-time which can be very distracting.
“Many cataract patients stop driving because of this, affecting both their independence and quality of life. Others are told to stop driving until they have the cataract surgery and restore their vision so they are safe to drive again.
“We want to reassure people that cataract surgery is a quick and painless solution, available both on the NHS and privately, and there’s no need to experience poor quality vision.”
Eyesight naturally deteriorates with age due to various physiological changes in the eyes. The lens inside the eye becomes less flexible making it harder to focus and, over time, can lead to cataracts. This clouding of the eye's natural lens making vision blurry, hazy, or misty, like looking through a dirty window.
Mr Stuart continues: “Eye tests are not only essential to maintain good vision but they can also detect serious underlying health conditions such as diabetes, glaucoma and AMD, many of which have no symptoms at the earliest stages. We welcome this positive step by the government to ensure that everyone is safe behind the wheel.”
Optegra provides treatment for some of the most common sight issues that face the over 70s, for example cataract surgery, treatment for glaucoma and Age-Related Macular Degeneration, as well as vision correction options for those who wish to improve their vision without the need for glasses.
For more information visit: www.optegra.com