COFFS Harbour optometrist Jason Kimberly is encouraging local women to get their eyes tested after the company he works for, Specsavers, has released data from its latest research revealing women can tend to skip eye appointments and wait for eye challenges to just get better.

“Not only is getting your eyes tested regularly extremely important because many eye conditions are characterised by a lack of symptoms, but we would especially encourage you to come in if you have noticed changes to your eyes or are dealing with ongoing, irritating problems,” Jason told News Of The Area.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

“Simply waiting for the problem to go away can be detrimental to your eyes and overall health.”

The research survey has revealed that 91 percent of women say they have experienced eye problems but nearly a quarter (23 percent) said they didn’t see an optometrist or a healthcare professional for the issue and just waited for it to go away on its own.

The research also found that 20 percent of women either can’t recall the last time they had their eyes checked or have never had them checked, leaving them unknowingly vulnerable to conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

The research also uncovered that the top two most common triggers for women to have their eyes checked are a reminder from the optometrist/health care professional (31 percent) and when it’s been at least two years since their last check-up (30 percent).

Fourteen percent of women cannot recall the last time they had their eyes checked or have never had had their eyes checked (six percent) with it being more prevalent among Gen Z (31 percent), Millennials (29 percent) and Gen X (23 percent) rather than Baby Boomers (six percent).

Gen Z are twice as likely as Baby Boomers (32 percent vs 15 percent) to say they did not visit an optometrist or a health professional for their eye issue and just waited for the issue to go away by itself.

The YouGov 2022 study consisted of an online survey conducted between 23 – 27 August 2022, commissioned by Specsavers Australia and comprised a nationally representative sample of 1,021 women aged eighteen years and older.

By Andrea FERRARI