Aussie men closing their eyes to blurred vision

Survey reveals Australian males ignoring eyesight problems

Australian men are ignoring blurred vision problems and are putting up with poor eyesight in middle age, according to a new consumer survey conducted by Essilor.

The nationwide study conducted by the world’s leading eyewear lens company has revealed that while men and women both begin to notice presbyopia – a common eyesight condition characterised by blurred near vision, which occurs naturally as people get older – at around age 44, women are seeking professional help far earlier than men.

On average, it takes Australian males almost two years (23 months) to make an appointment with an eye care practitioner after first noticing the signs of presbyopia. Conversely, Australian females generally seek professional help after only a year to 15 months.

The independent study of more than 1,000 adults aged 35-65 from across Australia was commissioned by Essilor to understand consumer awareness of presbyopia and to coincide with the launch of the company’s new Varilux S Series range of progressive lenses.

Essilor Australia CEO Tony Gray says the findings back up anecdotal evidence that middle aged Australian men are slow to accept and act on failing eyesight.

“We’ve always suspected that women are much more vigilant than men when it comes to maintaining good eyesight and now the statistics prove it,” he said.

“This is a wake-up call to middle aged men across Australia to seriously consider their eyesight and if they’re having problems to make an appointment with an optometrist now – not in two years’ time.

“Research shows that 96% of Australians over the age of 50 suffer from presbyopia or blurred near vision, but too many people – especially men – are ignoring the symptoms.

“If left uncorrected, most people will experience a significant visual disability including headaches and eyestrain resulting in problems maintaining usual levels of activity at work and carrying out simple tasks like reading the newspaper or medication labels.

“A simple visit to an optometrist can identify and rectify eyesight problems immediately, with the optical advances in today’s progressive lenses, like the new Varilux S Series, capable of returning full vision for wearers and restoring their normal lifestyle.”

Over the years, patients have moved away from traditional bifocals to the latest technology progressive lenses which are far more functional and attractive to meet individual lifestyle needs.

Presbyopia is the natural change in people’s vision linked to multiple changes in their crystalline lens. Generally experienced by every person from age 35 onwards regardless of race, gender or previous eye health, presbyopia is characterised by difficulties in seeing things close up, with symptoms including eyestrain, headaches, squinting and difficulty reading small print. Another symptom is needing to hold reading material at arm’s length to properly focus on it.

Optometrists Association Australia says it is impossible for people to avoid presbyopia as they enter middle age however there are several things people can do to address the problem.

“While no cure exists for presbyopia, the most common solution is prescription spectacle lenses, including progressive lenses, which provide great convenience and flexibility for those who have difficulty focusing up close without the need to remove reading glasses,” advises the Optometrists Association Australia.

More than a quarter of respondents in the research who have presbyopia now choose progressive lenses to correct their blurred vision, with other alternatives being bifocals or prescription reading glasses.

The Varilux S Series is the latest progressive lens to be released to global markets and is the first lens of its type to offer wearers both stability in motion and wide-angle vision. The Varilux S Series breaks the traditional compromise between a large field of vision and the “swim effect” that progressive lens wearers have often faced in the past.

With Varilux S Series lenses, Essilor has introduced two new world-leading technologies and 14 new patents, including Nanoptix, considered a revolution in the optical industry, and SynchronEyes, which for the first time takes into account the physiological distances between people’s eyes to ensure an increased field of vision.

Created specifically for people with presbyopia, the Varilux S Series lenses address previous concerns such as people having to move their whole head – rather than just their eyes – to focus on a particular object, and not seeing clearly enough through the side of their lenses.

Consumers can find out where to buy Varilux S series by visiting essilor.com.au.

Media contacts:

ESSILOR AUSTRALIA
Robert Springer, Marketing Manager
Phone: (02) 9714 4562
Email: robert.springer@essilor.com.au

HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS
Kieran Hall
Phone: 0422 147 151
Email: kieran@hughespr.com.au