Brits will miss an average of five routine appointments with their doctor, dentist, or optician each year – adding up to nearly 300 over their lifetime. The top reason for skipping an appointment is for fear of what they might find, according to more than a third of the 2,000 adults polled.
Other common excuses include being too busy with work, a car breaking down, being worried about the cost, or simply forgetting. But three in five (59 per cent) of those who have skipped or forgotten appointments have not always rebooked them – with trips to the dentist and optician most likely to fall by the wayside.
Consequently, the problem got worse for 54 per cent – while 42 per cent developed an issue they previously had no symptoms for before.
A spokesman for optician Specsavers, which commissioned the research to launch its State of the UK’s Eye Health 2022 report ahead of World Sight Day, said: “Many of us have such busy lives, so it is no surprise we end up missing quite a few appointments over the years. But what is worrying is the amount who do not rebook them – particularly the ones relating to their health.
“And when it comes to the optician appointments, so much can be detected from these routine checks which people have no symptoms for. For instance, conditions like glaucoma will often show no signs of developing in its early stages – but in many cases, leaving this untreated can cause sight loss.”
It also emerged an appointment with an optician is the most likely of all medical check-ups to be cancelled if something else arose. More than a third (36 per cent) of those, who would be more likely to ditch an eye examination over the likes of the dentists and the GP, would do so because they are not experiencing any symptoms relating to their eyes.
And 37 per cent believe there typically isn’t an immediate cause for concern when it comes to the eye conditions that they are aware of. Eye strain, trouble reading, and dry eyes are the most common eye-related issues which are being overlooked, with one in three having previously ignored problems with their eyes.
And 23 per cent haven’t been to the opticians in more than three years, with 31 per cent struggling to find the time to visit as much as they know they should. The research, conducted via OnePoll, also found 48 per cent do not know what glaucoma is.
However, two-thirds have experienced symptoms which relate to the eye condition – such as tenderness around the eyes, seeing rings around lights, and blurred vision. But one in four of these just waited for their symptoms to pass, rather than visiting the optician.
Dr Michael Mosley, a broadcaster, author, and journalist, who has officially launched the report, said: “I think making sure you keep your eye test appointment is really important. I try to have them every two years – there are a lot of treatable cases of conditions like cataracts and glaucoma in the UK, conditions that could be picked up by an optician.
“These are really treatable diseases if caught early on. However, if you don't do something about it, then it really is bad news.”
The spokesman from Specsavers added: “We understand there are a magnitude of reasons as to why people might put off appointments, or even overlook what seem like minor symptoms. But we want to implore people to maintain regular check-ups or get yourself booked in as soon as something arises, as these offer a peace of mind and can detect underlying issues at an early stage.
“And when it comes to eye conditions, many of these are treatable when spotted early, but unfortunately, they can become much harder to cure the more they develop.”
