The doctor said that people need to be careful this festive season
BBC Morning Live GP and regular on the show, Doctor Xand van Tullken, has warned people to be careful with what they do in the next few weeks over Christmas and the New Year period. Issuing a “festive warning” to stay safe. He revealed in the UK, there are over “two million people in the UK struggling with their vision in some way and one and five of us can be expected to deal with significant loss of vision over the course of our lives.”
In a warning to people this Christmas, the doctor said: “I’ll give you a festive warning. Every single medical student remembers being taught about getting hit in the eye by a champagne cork. They travel at 50 miles an hour and I can blind you. Always put your hands over, just make that’s one thing to cross over your Christmas list this year. Just open your first gently.”
What are the early signs of vision loss?
The expert says that there’s a “wide range of causes of loss of vision” such an eye injury, diabetes, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma – the last two of which are the “most common causes of vision loss in the UK.” Because of this, the expert says that if you have risk factors for these conditions or similar, then your sight could be getting worse because of these. In fact, your overall health impacts the vision of your eyes “tremendously”, he explains, adding that our eyes have “very small blood vessels, they’re very delicate precise pieces of equipment” which are affected by lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol and more.
The signs and symptoms you need to look out for include:
- Sudden flashes of light
- A shadow Veil or curtain
- Persistent eye pain
- Acute redness
- Difficulty closing an eyelid
- Hazed or blurred division
If you have “any of those things, it should prompt you to seek help” Dr Xand warns, adding that glaucoma is a common cause of loss of vision which “silently robs you of your vision and you may have no symptoms until your vision is quite damaged.” If you are concerned, you should tell your GP.
How often should I get my eyes checked?
The NHS recommends “everyone gets vision checked every two years if you’re living in Scotland that is free. But if you live in England, Ireland or Wales only certain people are eligible.” This list includes:
- under 16
- age 60 or over
- diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
- over for with a family history of glaucoma
- receiving certain benefits
Dr Xand eye test warning
The much-loved doctor said you need to get your eyes checked often, expressing regret he never did this himself. “I was not getting my eyes tested every 2 years by any means and when you hit get your 40s no matter how good your health is, your lens gets less elastic and your eyesight starts to fade. 90% of the conditions that causes us to lose our sight can be either prevented or treated very significantly so this is not something that is inevitable. It doesn’t have to happen to everybody which is why that to your appointment is so important.”
Looking after your eyes is key. You should ensure you wear sunglasses when sunny and avoid getting make up or skin care in your eyes. “If you want to significantly reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic eye damage, you are talking about improving your diet and that makes a big difference”. He adds that people should try and include more crunchy vegetables in their diet like carrots, beetroot or sweet potato.
