· More than 4 in 10 glasses and contact lens wearers can’t see what’s happening when watching live sport
· Over a quarter of Brits will struggle to tell the difference between team colours
· More than half of glasses and contact lens wearers are put off playing sport due to poor eyesight
Over 20 million Brits will run the risk of missing a goal at this year’s Euros due to poor eyesight, new national research has revealed1.
The study, conducted by leading eye care provider Optical Express, revealed more than four in ten (43%) glasses and contact lens wearers struggle to see what’s happening when watching live sport.
With around 48 million people in the UK wearing glasses or contact lenses2, that means an estimated and whopping 20.6 million regularly have difficulty cheering their side on.
What’s more, surprisingly a fifth of glasses/contact lens wearers (21%) avoid watching live sport in-person due to their poor eyesight, opting to watch on the TV instead.
The research comes ahead of a massive summer of sport for Great Britain, with England and Scotland both heading to the Euros in Germany, Team GB travelling to Paris for the Olympic Games and further popular sporting events such as Wimbledon also taking place.
Adding to the research, more than a quarter of those who wear glasses or contact lenses reported that they struggle to see the difference in colours between opposing players or teams when watching live sports – meaning more than 12 million Brits could find themselves cheering on the wrong team this summer.
And when turning from spectator to player, over half of glasses or contact lens wearers (55%) say it is a huge inconvenience when playing sports themselves.
Expert Stephen Hannan, Clinical Service Director at Optical Express, said: “It’s a real shame to hear of such a huge number of Brits reporting issues with their eyesight when watching sports. If you’re suffering from unsatisfactory vision, despite wearing glasses or contact lenses, it’s best to book in for an eye test to see if anything has changed since your latest prescription was provided to you.
“Alternative vision correction options, which offers a long-term care solution, is laser eye and lens replacement surgery. Both eye surgeries corrects poor vision and gives patients freedom from wearing glasses and contact lenses. Laser Eye surgery is a simple procedure that can take anything from a matter of seconds to just a few minutes, depending upon the level of correction that’s required, while lens replacement surgery is typically completed in less than 15 minutes per eye.
“Laser eye and lens replacement surgery can correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. In addition, lens replacement surgery can overcome presbyopia, a condition that affects the ability of all of us to see clearly at intermediate and near distances, such as when using a computer or a mobile smartphone, as we become older.
“With modern day customised wavefront guided Laser Eye Surgery procedures for example, the eye prescription of the patient can be corrected to up to 25x the accuracy level of contact lenses or glasses. A cool beam advanced laser makes subtle adjustments to the shape of the surface of the eye, correcting any imperfections and making vision clearer and sharper.
“With sports bringing so much joy to so many people, both watching and playing, it’d be such a shame to miss out due to your glasses or contact lenses. Around 90% of people who visit Optical Express for a free consultation are suitable for a procedure, so it’s definitely worth reaching out to your local branch.”
If you would like to speak to someone about your vision or eye health, visit your local Optical Express for a free consultation for vision correction surgery, book your appointment today.
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