New research from Specsavers has found that women in the Bundaberg Region are skipping routine eye checks, with almost 40,000 locals potentially not looking after their eye health.
This leaves them unknowingly vulnerable to conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
Bundaberg Specsavers optometrist Linda Zhang said women needed to start putting themselves first and prioritising their health.
“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,” Linda said.
“Simply waiting for the problem to go away can be detrimental to your eyes and overall health.”
Linda said the research indicated a misconception that you needed private health to book an eye test.
She said everyone with a valid Medicare card was eligible for a bulk-billed eye test.
“We encourage anyone who is experiencing issues with their eye health to come in and speak to us sooner rather than later,” she said.
“Even if you are focused on healthy living and have a good diet and exercise regularly, this doesn’t necessarily prevent you from irreversible eye conditions.
“I know it can be difficult, especially if you have a family or work commitments, but without our sight, we wouldn’t be able to do the things we do for the people who need us.”
A routine eye test should be scheduled every two years.
Find out more information and book your appointment here.
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