National Eye Health Week (23-29 September 2024)

Help spread the word on eye health, yes it’s that time again

Organisers of National Eye Health Week (NEHW) are calling on everyone in optics to get involved and help spread the word on eye health in a bid to prevent avoidable sight loss for future generations.

During seven days of intensive activity, the Week will share essential eye care advice with millions of Brits helping them enjoy better eye health and safeguard their long-term vision.

Three-quarters (77%) of people living in the UK regularly suffer bouts of poor eye health, whilst 50% of sight loss is recoverable

David Cartwright, chair of Eye Health UK, the charity responsible for running the Week comments: NEHW is a key calendar moment for promoting optics and helping people take better care of their eyes. This year’s campaign feels particularly timely as the new government commits to reduce waiting times and focus on prevention.”

David continues: “During the Week we’ll demonstrate how primary eye care professionals can, and do, play an important role in improving public health and helping us all well live well for longer.”

To ensure the word on eye health is spread as far and wide as possible key groups will be provided with tools designed to make a positive and lasting difference to the state of the UK’s eye health.

NEHWEyecare practitioners will have the opportunity to use a host of free resources and shareables to engage their local communities and build relations across health and social care.

Changemaker briefings and specially curated content will help raise optics up the public health agenda and involve political and public health champions.

Whilst, the public will be empowered to take responsibility for their eye health with a series of informative and interactive campaigns related to daily themes.

Each day of the Week is themed to keep the conversation on eye health fresh. The themes address common barriers to uptake of eye care services; focus on groups at increased risk of avoidable sight loss and put eye care at the heart of healthy living.

– routine eye tests and vision screening,

– enhanced primary eye care services,

– keeping kids’ & teens’ eyes healthy,

– colour vision,

– sight after sixty,

– affordable eye care,

– live well to see well

Activities during the Week include: the launch of a report on children’s eye health; wide-reaching media campaigns; a screen amnesty for teens; asking seniors if they can ‘see straight’ using an amsler grid; the publication of Vista – a consumer lifestyle magazine packed with eye care advice; the launch of a new podcast, risk calculator and sight loss simulator; plus, a daily Blog featuring a range of eyecare / health experts; and, the publication of a series of new educational resources for early years and KS1 children.

Not to mention thousands of local events and eye health promotions run by the network of NEHW supporters across the UK.

Taking part in the Week is open to everyone and practices can register for a free resource pack (whilst stock last) or download materials from visionmatters.org.uk.

More than 50 resources including: posters, leaflets, recipe cards, infographics and social assets will be available on the website from w/c 2 September. There’s even a short webinar providing tips on how practitioners can make the most of the Week.

One much-loved resource is Vista – the official NEHW magazine. This year’s issue is bursting with advice and inspiration about looking after your eyes and features colour-loving interiors guru, Sophie Robinson, as the cover star; recipes from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and an interview with C4’s Great Pottery Throw Down winner, Donna Bloye.

The social conversation is an important part of the campaign and everyone is encouraged to join in by including the hashtags

#EyeWeek and #VisionMatters on their posts or ‘liking’ and ‘sharing’ social content on the official NEHW social channels:

Instagram @NationalEyeHealthWeek

Twitter @myvisionmatters

Facebook @NationalEyeHealthWeek

More information about the events and activities taking place during the Week will be announced in the coming weeks.

Files to download

NEHW 24 Active flyer cover NEHW24 coming soon poster NEHW24 essential health check Poster