SIGHT is the sense people fear losing the most — yet eyes and vision are often at the bottom of people’s priorities when it comes to their health.

Eye experts in Bolton want to change this and have rallied together for National Eye Health Week.

Regular checks at the opticians and eating lots of colourful vegetables are just some of the simple steps people can take to maintain their eye sight into old age.

Mr Simon Kelly, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said the loss of sight can be devastating.

Mr Kelly said: “It’s easy to take your eyes for granted. But if you lose your vision, it dramatically changes your you life.

“The activities you carry out in your daily life become very challenging.

“It has a huge impact on your independence. It stops you from driving or going to the shops and you’re more likely to feel isolated.

“It is no surprise that people who lose their site often become depressed.

“The stakes are very high when it comes to your eyes.”

Conditions of the retina and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the most common cause of blindness in the UK.

AMD is a painless eye condition that generally leads to the gradual loss of central vision but can sometimes cause a rapid reduction in vision. It tends to affect older people.

Central vision is used to see what is directly in front of you. In AMD, your central vision becomes blurred and can cause affect a person’s ability to read, pick out colour and recognise faces.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common disease among people aged between 18 and 65, if not treated, can cause blindness.

It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the cells at the back of the eye (known as the retina). As Bolton has particularly high levels of diabetes, this complication is prevalent among Mr Kelly’s patients at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

As with most health risks, the best way to avoid vision loss is to lead a healthy lifestyle.

This means avoiding the usual offenders such as alcohol and smoking.

After ageing, smoking is the biggest risk factor for damaging the retina and developing macular degeneration.

Usman Hussain is a senior optometrist at Specsavers in Middlebrooke.

Mr Hussain explained: “Smoking can really damage your eyes and cause macular degeneration.

“Everyone gets cataracts but with smoking, it happens much quicker.

“Excessive alcohol can affect the optic nerve — it’s almost toxic to the optic nerve.

“The best thing you can do is have regular eye checks at your opticians. Not only can they help improve your sight but they can detect much more serious problems such as tumours on the eye.

“The eyes really are a window into your general health.”

Both Mr Hussain and Mr Kelly advise people should eat lots of leafy, green vegetables.

Mr Kelly explained: “Healthy diet and exercise is essential to prevent diabetes. The compounds found in vegetables can help reduce macular degeneration.

“Lutein in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale is very good for your eyes.

“A compound called zeaxanthin found in yellow fruits and vegetables, such as sweetcorn, is also very good for you.

“I recommend a portion of fish once a week for Omega 3.”

Protecting your eyes from UV rays from sunlight and wearing protective eye wear when doing manual work is essential, according to Mr Kelly.

Parents are advised not to let their children play with laser pens — particularly those manufactured outside the EU.

He added: “Eye injuries are a terrible problem. We often deal with children who have been poked with pencils.

“People such as mechanics and builders using angle grinders need to use protective goggles. In the summer months, we see a lot of people having a go at DIY without protective eye wear. It is essential you use safety equipment.”

Mr Kelly was one of three leading doctors who worked on a groundbreaking study linking the inhalation of legal poppers to eye damage.

 

Eye health: the facts 

• 1.8 million people in the UK are living with sight loss. For 53 per cent of these, a sight test and new spectacles could really help.

• An eye test can detect early signs of conditions like glaucoma, which can be treated if found soon enough.

• During a sight test, other health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure can be detected.

• For healthy eyes, eat well and wear eye protection in bright sunlight.

• Opticians advise an eye test around once a year.