Today (Thursday, October 14) is World Sight Day, helping to emphasise the importance of looking after your eyes and taking steps to help prevent blindness.

In the run-up to this World Sight awareness day, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has revealed #LoveYourEyes to be the theme this year, and the campaign aims to encourage one million people to pledge to have a routine sight test.

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is calling on eyecare professionals, hospitals and businesses to get involved, to help encourage and educate people on the importance of eye health and regular check-ups to reduce the number of individuals losing their sight.

Out of the five senses - sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell – people in Britain have been found to believe sight to be the most precious. According to data from the Imperial College London, Brits as a whole would be least willing to lose their eyesight amongst all the senses. From seeing loved ones and moments in life to being able to enjoy the great sights of nature, it is understandable why sight is very precious to most.

With this data in mind, are Brits doing all they can to look after their eyesight? With 31% of UK adults not visiting the opticians within the past two years, which equates to some 14 million people, it seems like even though most Brits appreciate their eyesight, they take it for granted.

Marcus Slater, Owner and Optometrist at Reynolds & Slater Opticians in Cornwall, has marked World Sight Day by explaining more about the importance of regular sight tests and to give people a better understanding of why our eyesight is so precious and how we can look after our sight as we grow older and more vulnerable to sight issues.

He says the average UK adult should be having regular eye tests every two years to ensure eye health and to deal with any changes in sight during that period of time. He adds that an eye examination not only tests your vision but is also used to indicate any eye-related issues. A number of diseases and illnesses can be picked up during a regular sight test, such as glaucoma, cataracts and ageing eyes.

Marcus says: “As you age, you will likely notice changes in the way that you see on a day to day basis. These changes start off small and happen gradually, but eventually you will probably start to notice that your vision is worsening.”

Whilst regular eye examinations are recommended throughout all stages of your life, they are extremely important for ageing eyes. As we age, our eyesight also deteriorates and it is important to check your eye health regularly, as failure to do so could lead to increased issues with your sight.

For most, their eyesight is the most developed and important sense; it enables us to learn, move, interact with loved ones and enjoy all facets of life. So why do we choose to neglect this vital body part, when with proper care and attention our sight is actually easy to maintain and care for? Marcus says Reynolds & Slater Opticians recommend regular two-year check-ups with your optician to ensure good eye health, and to help you keep enjoying your sight for longer.

Today, on World Sight Day itself, the IAPB is issuing a global challenge that it suggests will “unite the world, bringing people across the globe together to have their eyes tested.” Will you be taking part?

Now is the time to take control of your eye health and book in for a checkup today.