Tweed Heads women delay eye health checks

Tweed women are not getting their eyes tested and that has a local optometrist seeing red, as he blames busy lives and even Covid for the trend. Find out why disease prevention is better than a cure.

Optometrist Dr Tri Nguyen said, "The key message would be prevention is better than cure if we can detect eye diseases early we can prevent people from going blind". Photo: David Bonaddio

A Tweed Heads optometrist is urging women to get their eyes tested after shocking new research has revealed that local women are shunning routine tests despite these being covered by Medicare.

“Ninety-one per cent of local women admit to having experienced eye problems, but nearly a quarter said they didn’t see an optometrist or a healthcare professional for the issue and just waited for it to go away on its own,” Specsavers Australia has found.

The research also revealed that 20 per cent of women could not recall the last time they had an eye test leaving them vulnerable to conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Dr Tri Nguyen, an optometrist from Specsavers Tweed City, said the hectic pace of modern life was a contributing factor to people not getting their eyes tested.

“Women, in particular, are more family-orientated, putting themselves last,” Dr Nguyen said.

Liz Champtaloup, who suffered from a retinal tear, potentially saved herself from blindness after waking up one day and noticing a difference in her vision.

Liz Champtaloup, who suffered from a retinal tear, potentially saved herself from blindness after waking up one day and noticing a difference in her vision

“It was a bit weird … I had floaters, and they were significant as I don’t normally get them,” she said.

“No event caused it ... but you have no idea what the optometrists might pick up.

“When things go on in the back of your eye, diseases like glaucoma can silently happen.”

Data has found older people are more likely to keep a check on their eye health.

“Gen Z are twice as likely as Baby Boomers to say they did not visit an optometrist or a health professional for their eye issue and just waited for the issue to go away by itself,” a Health Aus spokesperson said.

Dr Nguyen also blamed Covid as a contributing factor for Tweed people foregoing their eye check-ups.

“Normally people would do a two-year recall but straight after Covid people are still worried about going out,” he said.

Dr Tri Nguyen, a Tweed optometrist, said the hectic pace of modern life was seeing some neglect what should be regular health checks. Picture: David Bonaddio

“The key message would be prevention is better than cure. If we can detect eye diseases early we can prevent people from going blind.

“Things such as glaucoma, systemic diseases like blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes - we can pick up through an eye exam.

“If we can pick out the problem early we can solve it early.”