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Eye health is an important issue - whether or not you wear
ortho k lenses, have eye laser surgery or even have good
natural vision.
However, a new study by the New Zealand Association of Optometrists has found that 47 per cent of people surveyed in the country do not know enough about eye health.
Dr Lesley Frederiskon, national director of the association, has highlighted that it is not just poor vision that optometrists can detect.
"There are a number of other conditions that can be detected through an optometrists exam, but worryingly, many people don't recognise this," she said.
"Awareness and knowledge of the importance of eye health is a critical prerequisite for motivating behaviours and accessing appropriate care."
The study found that as many as 62 per cent of New Zealanders do not visit an optometrist for an eye exam regularly.
It was noted that this is not only a problem in New Zealand.
Although 38 per cent of New Zealanders do not know that an eye exam can detect chronic and systematic diseases, neither did 32 per cent of Americans.
The association is currently running a campaign entitled Save our Sight, aimed at increasing public awareness about eye exams.
If people are avoiding taking a trip to the optometrist because of a fear of wearing glasses or day wear contacts, they can rest assured that
ortho k could be the answer.
The overnight vision correction lenses help to restore
natural vision while asleep - once the lenses are removed in the morning the wearer can see clearly for the rest of the day.
They are ideal for a wide range of people who suffer from shortsightedness, including sports players, dry eye sufferers and children who want to avoid the embarrassment that glasses can sometimes bring.
By Chris Alexander
