MORE than one in eight Australians fear losing their sight more than any other sense, but Dubbo optometrist Carina Ng said we take our sight for granted.
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Ms Ng is a volunteer optometrist with Onesight, a global not-for-profit organisation which aims to ensure every person has access to vision care. She also works at OPSM Dubbo.
"A lot of people assume that if they can see well then there are no further problems with their eyes," Ms Ng said.
"It's a lack of awareness or education. If people think they can see well enough they don't get their eyes checked."
"They don't see it as a regular thing, like going to the dentist."
OPSM research from earlier this year revealed 47 per cent of people in NSW would not get their eyes checked if their GP recommended it, but more than three-quarters would get a check if they experienced blurred vision.
Ms Ng said many conditions don't actually present with obvious symptoms.
"There's glaucoma which doesn't give any symptoms a lot of the time, and cataracts is very common especially in the wiser generations," Ms Ng said.
"They're the main ones and for patients with diabetes, diabetes causes the smaller vessel in the eye to burst and causes bleeds and leaks in the back of the eye where the retina is."
"Also you could be losing vision in one eye and not realise it because the other eye is compensating for it, especially in children."
She said many people were probably deterred by the cost of getting their eyes checked, but said early detection is the key.
"A lot of people aren't aware that a general basic eye test is bulk billed through medicare. That's the initial step in prevention," Ms Ng said.
"The main thing isn't just helping people see but also opening up opportunities. If a child gets glasses, they can see better but they'll also be able to learn better and make more out of their education. It's about the opportunities that vision presents."
