AN OPTICIANS in Wythenshawe will kick off National Eye Health Week (19-25 September) by raising vital funds in support of Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

A new partnership will not only see Specsavers in Allerton raising money for the charity, but will focus on increasing awareness of the importance of regular eye tests in preventing people from needlessly losing their sight.  

Store staff and RNIB volunteers will be inviting customers and locals to donate to the cause by collecting in store and raising awareness of sight loss.

Wythenshawe Specsavers store director, Paul Showman, says: ‘It’s astonishing that so many people are needlessly living with or at risk of sight loss in the UK today. Half of all sight loss cases are preventable – and a simple eye test can be the first step in prevention.

‘Our mission together with RNIB is to transform the nation’s eye health through education, awareness and action; we want to reverse these worrying eye health trends that are putting unnecessary pressure on the health service and placing a massive burden on the public purse.

The partnership comes at an exciting time, with recent findings from RNIB and Specsavers’ State of the Nation: Eye Health Report 2016 which emphasises the need for greater awareness about eye health in the UK and in promoting prevention through education.

Specsavers stores across the country will be engaging in a multitude of fundraising activities throughout the week, activities include colourful and fun seasonal events, sponsored challenges and providing collection tins in-store.