Get your eyes checked regularly!

I know, and I am sure that we all know, many individuals who quite happily ignore the letters from their opticians advising them it is time for their check-up.

Indeed, a visit to an optician is not generally considered key to a healthy life and is often considered to be a chore!

However, going to the optician (a term which, as explained at http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/opticians/Pages/NHSopticians.aspx includes within its scope both optometrists and dispensing opticians) is certainly not something that should be overlooked.

Indeed, opticians play a crucial role in our well-being.

For instance, part of the role of optometrists, as described by The College of Optometrists, is to ‘examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or abnormality and problems with general health’.

Opticians may therefore identify diseases such as glaucoma or refer patients for important medical treatment.

See for example this article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-13695530, explaining how an 8-year-old boy was discovered to have a brain tumour after his optician referred him to hospital after noticing an abnormality at the back of his eyes.

So, if you have not been in a while, get yourself to an optician!