Toowoomba women urged to prioritise their health after alarming research released

A Toowoomba optometrist is urging women to prioritise their health after new research revealed 81% of Australian women, the equivalent to 62,611 women in Toowoomba, have made a medical appointment and then cancelled or postponed.

A Toowoomba optometrist is urging women to prioritise their health after new research revealed a staggering 81% of Australian women, the equivalent to 62,611 women in the Toowoomba area, have made a medical appointment and then subsequently cancelled or postponed.

According to Specsavers this is due to conflicting priorities such as family needs, work needs or being time poor.

The research also shows that 40% of women in Queensland have put off making an appointment for a month or longer after receiving a reminder, and 21% have never booked an appointment after receiving one.

Toowoomba Specsavers optometrist Steve Turley said the data highlighted the need for women to get their eyes tested routinely.

“We have a much better chance of managing and treating eye conditions if they are detected early,” he said.

“Even if you are focused on healthy living and have a good diet and exercise regularly, this doesn’t necessarily prevent you from conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration or cataract that can be strongly related to family history, sun exposure, medication or just be incidental in nature.

Sophia Rokoraite with Optometrist Steve Turley from Specsavers Toowoomba. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“I know it can be difficult, especially if you have a family or work commitments, but without our sight we wouldn’t be able to do the things we do for the people who need us.”

Millennial women were the biggest culprits of cancelling or postponing appointments with 87% citing family commitments as their number one reason, while Gen Z women were more likely to end up cancelling their appointment and never rescheduling.