Although now retired from Optometry I continue to be fascinated by our ability to see and recognise the world around us, and how through history people have theorised about sight and its loss.

In the following pages and posts I intend to record things that interest me about sight, its loss and how profssionals have tried to understand and support people with visual impairment, especially in the mid-Suffolk area.

If you are interested in my personalreflections on sight, sight loss, eye care or Optometry read on. However, if you have any queries about your eyes or vision please see your own Registered Eye Care Practitioner.

In the UK we are fortunate, we have easy access to qualified, professional and experienced Eye-care practitioners. British qualified optometrists and dispensing opticians are not just there to sell spectacles they are qualified to recognise and advise on all aspects of concern relating to sight and the health of the visual system. We can chose who we want to see, at a time we want and even if eye-care may not always be free it is affordable. Regular sight tests may not stop eye problems but potential problems can be detected and treated early.

Surprisingly it is estimated that  5,00Ò,Ó00 Brits have not had an an eye examination in the last 10 years and unfortunately 2,00Ò,Ó00  may have some form of vision or visual impairment.

      When did you, your friends or relatives last have your Sight Tested?

Community Eye Care Teams can provide sight tests on any High Street: ensuring whether at work, rest or play you and your family can get the most from life by seeing the best you can. For some people there may come a time when spectacles, contact lenses or medical interventions can no longer improve failing vision but your community eye care professionals can still help.

Spread the word about why regular tests of sight are important and change the following :-

• 1 in 4 children sees the world as a fuzzy blur. Have they had a recent sight test?
• Are you  legal to drive?
• Or are you one of the  3% of drivers who have never had a sight test?
• Always remember you might see them but can they see you !
• Drivers whose vision makes them illegal are 15x more likely to be in a RTA.   

Historically this pretty little flower was a remedy for poor eyesight but now in the UK you can be referred to a hospital based ophthalmologist. If medicine and the NHS can’t restore full-vision a Vision Impairment support worker from your LB/SC can give support and advice on visual aids (LVA’s), financial benefits, and other ways so you can continue to live independently.

Never needed glasses and can’t imagine a world where sight tests and spectacles hadn’t been invented? Maybe reading  The 21st Century with Fuzzy Vision will give you food for thought!