Don’t put your sight out of mind

Don’t put your sight out of mind

Auckland, 12 February 2018. Over 70 percent of over 40’s in New Zealand don’t have regular eye tests and it could be causing them long-term problems.

It’s a long-standing joke that once you hit 40 everything heads south. Unfortunately when it comes to our eyesight, it’s true.

A recent survey by comparison site Canstar Blue has revealed that over 70% of Kiwi’s aged between 40 and 49 do not have a regular eye test which could be causing damage to their sight, or worse, missing vital clues on a number of illnesses and conditions.

Canstar Blue’s Emma Quantrill comments:

“From 40 onwards, we all develop ‘long-arm syndrome’, holding the book at arms-length in order to read the words but lots of us don’t get it checked out and the strain this could be putting on our eyes may be doing long-term damage.”

What happens to our eyes when we reach 40?

The wonderful phenomenon of losing the ability to read things close-up is called presbyopia. It’s caused by a loss in the elasticity in the lens of your eye and bad news it’s it happens to all of us. The good news is that it will stabilise in your early 60’s.

In addition, other visual changes to look forward to are needing more light when you read, changes in colour perception, problems with glare when driving at night.

According to the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, over 70,000 New Zealanders over the age of 40 also have glaucoma, a progressive condition that causes damage to the optic nerve and if left untreated, can cause permanent loss of sight.

“It’s about being sensible” continues Quantrill. “There are a variety of opticians and optometrists in New Zealand and a basic eye test costs in the region of $50. Sometimes they are even discounted or free if you go on to but glasses or contact lenses so it’s worth shopping around but not worth avoiding all together.

Satisfied customer

Canstar Blue recently asked 1,262 consumers what satisfied them about their opticians. Scoring a maximum five stars in every category, we are delighted to announce Visique as the Most Satisfied Customers Award winner for 2018.

Accepting the award, Neil Human, CEO of The Independent Optometry Group, said:

“The Visique brand is owned by The Independent Optometry Group, a cooperative focused on independent New Zealand practices staying independent whilst enjoying collective benefits where possible.

“It’s a strong message that each of our members are focused on what matters the most to their clients; consumer experience and satisfaction, and they are succeeding in a very competitive market. This fantastic result and a strong endorsement of our practice owners and their staff and the attention that they pay to servicing their customers’ needs - the very reason we are now this year’s award winners.”

For further information regarding this survey, please click here.

ENDS

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