Are people postponing eye treatment due to anxieties about eye procedures?

New research reveals widespread levels of ‘eye-anxiety’ with three in four(73%) of people admitting they feel anxious about having treatment on their eyes, above all other body parts.

In fact, the research from Specsavers found nearly one in three (31%) people who had been diagnosed with a serious eye condition, such as cataracts, glaucoma or Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), have delayed when told they required treatment. Among those, more than half (55%) waited four months or longer, while around one in 10 (11%) have still not sought treatment.

Delaying care can have devastating consequences; around 1 in 10 (12%) of those who postponed treatment lost their eyesight completely. Across the UK, of the two million people living with sight loss, more than half are either blind or partially sighted because of an irreversible, long-term eye health condition, making early treatment vital.

Aston spoke to Preet Bhara, optometry director at Specsavers.

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