Opticians offer free eye tests until 17 October

Opticians across Belgium are offering free eye tests until 17 October, in a nationwide initiative encouraging more people to take care of their eyesight.

Some 500 specialists - about a third of all Belgian opticians - are taking part in the 11th edition of Vision Week (Semaine de la Vision/Week van het Zien), which actually lasts two weeks starting this Monday.

According to the Professional Association of Opticians and Optometrists, half of people in Belgium have not had their vision checked in the past five years and 14% have never had an eye examination.

The association says: "80% of the information that reaches our brain comes from our eyes, so good eyesight is essential. People are not taking enough care of their vision."

Priority groups targeted by the campaign include children, adults over 45 and anyone who uses a computer for long periods - but the free tests are available to anyone with no obligation to make a purchase.

The basic test is designed to assess the quality of a person's eyesight - and not their overall eye health. If the optician spots a potential bigger problem, the patient will be referred to an ophthalmologist.

A map showing all the participating opticians can be found here.

Photo: Barebibotra/Wikimedia. Licensed under Creative Commons