The fifth National Eye Week (NEHW) will take place Monday 22 to Sunday 28 September 2014. Health professionals, and eye care charities and organisations from across the UK are joining together to promote the importance of eye health and the need for regular sight tests for all.

Cllr Chris Lewis, Executive Lead for Health and Wellbeing, said: “It is so important that we look after our eyesight. Sight is the sense people fear losing the most yet many of us don’t know the best way to look after our eyes. National Eye Health Week aims to change all that.”

David Cartwright, chair of NEHW explains: “National Eye Health Week is a unique event that provides an invaluable opportunity for the whole ocular sector to come together to encourage more people to visit their optometrist for a routine sight test. By working in partnership to highlight the benefits of having regular eye checks and illustrating how lifestyle factors can contribute to eye disease we can improve the UK’s eye health, contribute towards a reduction in avoidable blindness and enhance people’s everyday lives.”

Each day during NEHW 2014 there is a specific focus or theme designed to resonate with key audiences.

NEHW 2014 Timetable

• Pre-Week UV protection
• Monday 22 September – General eye health
• Tuesday 23 September – Women’s eye health
• Wednesday 24 September – Sight after sixty
• Thursday 25 September – Sports vision
• Fr-eye-day 26 September will focus on eye research
• Saturday 27 September – nutrition and the eye
• Sunday 28 September will concentrate on the link between smoking and sight loss

Taking part in National Eye Health Week is simple, easy and, best of all, free. Simply register your support online by to receive a FREE resource pack containing leaflets, posters, promotional materials, balloons and a series of exclusive recipe cards featuring dishes rich in eye-friendly nutrients.

There will also be additional resource materials available to download from the Vision Matters website, including kids activity sheets, template press releases and an events handbook full of inspiring ideas to help you plan a National Eye Health Week event for your staff, customers or local community.

For more information and to register your event or activity visit www.visionmatters.org.uk

Registered activities will be featured in the official event listing on the Vision Matters website and promoted on the National Eye Health Week Twitter feed and in the national and local press.