All eyes on Vision Express for Macular Week 2017

This week is Macular Week (26 June-2 July), so to help raise awareness of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Vision Express is taking its ‘Vision Van’ back in to the community to encourage the great British public to have regular eye tests. Partnering with leading medical roadshow provider EMS Healthcare for the fourth year, Vision Express will be traveling across the UK visiting AMD ‘hotspots’ Boston, Huddersfield, Blackpool, Wrexham and Leicester, offering free 30-minute sight checks.

AMD is the most common cause of sight loss in the UK. With over 600,000 suffering from AMD in the UK and a further 200 new cases every day, Vision Express representatives will be on-board to advise about the importance of check-ups and signs to spot.

As smoking and age are the main contributors to causing the disease, Vision Express is reaching out to areas that are most at risk of developing AMD. With Blackpool recently named the UK’s smoking capital, it was a key area for the Vision Van to visit. As well as Wrexham, Boston and Leicester, where there are a high percentage of people aged over 65.

Jonathan Lawson, CEO of Vision Express, says: 'AMD significantly impacts people aged over 65 and in the UK, almost 40% of the population falls into this age bracket. So, we are taking our Vision Van back on the road for Macular Week to raise awareness of this sight-threatening condition and to encourage more people to have an essential eye check. '

Suzie Nield, Business Delivery Manager at EMS Healthcare, said ‘We’re really happy the Vision Van is back out on the road, enabling Vision Express to provide information and care in the community. With our extensive experience in helping Ophthalmic professionals across both private sector and public sector, we are pleased to be a part of Macular Week for another year.’

Join @EMSHealthcare on Twitter to follow the journey of the 'Vision Van'.

Boston (Market Place) Monday 26th June
Huddersfield (St. George’s Square) Tuesday 27th June
Blackpool (St. John’s Square) Wednesday 28th June
Wrexham (Queen’s Square) Thursday 29th June
Leicester (St Peter’s Square) Friday 30th June

For more information on Macular Week, visit https://www.macularsociety.org/ and free Eye Test vouchers are available to download online: https://www.visionexpress.com/book-eye-test/ until Wednesday 5th July 2017. Redeem in Vision Express stores until Monday 31st July 2017.