Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers has been shocked to find out that he has glaucoma, following a routine check-up with his optician.
The 66-year-old TV star underwent scans of the back of his eye before being told that he is showing signs of an early-onset variation of the condition.
Despite the news, Dave was thankful that his condition was spotted early, so he could receive a referral to his GP and was prescribed with eye drops to prevent it from progressing. Speaking to the Express, Dave said: "I was so relieved and thankful that it had been detected because it meant I could continue my career, doing what I love most, being able to work alongside my best friend, but, more importantly, being able to see my children's faces.
"If I hadn't gone for my regular check-up, I could be completely blind which is a scary thought. As many as half of all people with glaucoma are undiagnosed."
Thanks to regular visits to his opticians and regular eye-drop use, Dave has 20:20 vision - as the drops keep his eye pressure stable and safeguards his vision. The presenter has since partnered with Specsavers, experts in the industry and Labour MP Marsha De Cordova to call for policy changes as well as a National Eye Health Strategy across England.
He added: "Along with Specsavers and MP Marsha De Cordova, I believe we need a National Eye Health Strategy as it would help alleviate some of this pressure on the NHS. By making more efficient use of high street opticians people would spend less time waiting for care.
"It would also ensure everyone has equal access to care as there are some people, such as those experiencing homelessness that are particularly disadvantaged and struggle to access an NHS eye test."
The NHS describe glaucoma as: "A common eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. It's usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye.
"Glaucoma can lead to loss of vision if it's not diagnosed and treated early. It can affect people of all ages, but is most common in adults in their 70s and 80s."
While the condition doesn't have any common symptoms to begin with, as it progresses it starts to affect the edges of a person's vision. Other symptoms include blurred vision, and seeing rainbow-coloured circles around bright lights and illuminations.
Both eyes are usually affected by the condition, however, it can often be worse in one eye. To discover more about Specsavers' Access to Care Report, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/reports/access-to-care-2023
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