People losing sight of eye exams, says survey

ALMOST one million Irish people risk losing their sight by failing to have their eyes examined regularly, according to new international research.

An independent survey carried out in Ireland for Irish charity Fighting Blindness, found that 34% of adults are not having their eyes tested at least once every two years.

An eye test for driving licence application only checks if glasses are needed, whereas a full eye examination is the only way to confirm an eye disease.

Regular eye examinations detect early signs of diseases such as AMD (age-related macular degeneration) or glaucoma in adults.

More than 6,000 Irish people have AMD and certain types, if detected early, can be treated to reduce vision loss.

The Irish survey found that as many as 170,000 people in the most at-risk age group - over 55s - had not had an eye test in the past two years.

“As the figures relate to eye tests, not eye examinations, it is reasonable to assume that the numbers of people not having full eye examinations is much higher than one million,” said Mr Stephen Beatty, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Waterford Regional Hospital.

Senator David Norris, who celebrates his 60th birthday this year, was diagnosed with a mild form of AMD about two years ago.

He went to his optician when he found that his eyesight was becoming blurred, particularly when watching TV. He was referred to an eye specialist who told him he had AMD.

“It is as if something wears out in the eye - it’s gone and that’s it,” Mr Norris said.

Mr Norris had his eyes checked recently and was delighted that the disease had not worsened.

“Some people with the disease cannot drive a car, but I can,” he pointed out.

Michael Griffith, chief executive of Fighting Blindness, said people are not usually aware that eye diseases might occur without any outward sign of anything being wrong.

“The tragedy is that for some types of AMD, sight may be saved if it is detected early and treated swiftly. The first step to treatment is a full eye examination,” he said.

The international survey of 11,281 citizens (915 in Ireland) in 11 countries put Ireland second last, with Italy behind, when frequency of eye tests were compared.

Free eye examinations are available in Ireland to all pensioners over the age of 70, to medical card holders and those with sufficient PRSI cover.

Employers are also legally obliged to provide free eye exams for employees who use computers at work.