Moorfields campaign hopes to improve the nation’s eye health

Moorfields YES EYE DID campaign will run during National Eye Health Week 2015 to raise awareness about keeping your eyes healthy, different eye conditions and leaving a very special legacy - eye donation.

Across the week we will provide advice and information on our website, via social media and a web chat on everything from safe contact lenses care, to how to spot eye infections, the role of eye tests in showing early signs of serious disease and why more people are needed to sign up for donation to help surgeons save patients’ sight.

Why YESEYEDID?

The most recent health survey for England highlighted a real disconnect between people’s perceptions of their eye health and the reality - one in five respondents, who rated their eye health as excellent or very good, admitted that their eyesight does sometimes limit their activities.  

Answering questions on general eye health

For those who want to find out more about eye conditions, keeping your eyes healthy including what general eye health tips you can follow, then Moorfields general ophthalmology consultant, Seema Verma, will be answering questions via a web chat on Wednesday September 23 at 3.30pm.

Anyone can send in their questions about general eye conditions or eye injuries.

Why eye donation?

Sometimes people with severe eye conditions or eye injuries need to undergo a corneal transplant and the YesEyeDid campaign wants to also focus on the importance of tissue donation in sight saving operations .

Moorfields’ charities supporter, Nicola Jones, recently signed up to be an eye donor following the hospital’s registration drive in July. “I had no idea that 10 sight saving operations could be performed from a pair of donated eyes.”

“Eventually my eyes could be used to save someone’s sight or maybe they will be used for research purposes. I have let my family know what I want to do. It’s great to think I can help someone else after I have passed on. After all I won’t be needing my eyes then!”

Sight Saving research

Frank Larkin, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon and deputy director of research at Moorfields biomedical research centre said: “Clearly the great majority of eyes which are donated supply our corneal transplants service which saves sight. However in the case of some donations, where people have suffered certain diseases, medical disorders or other general medical conditions, the risk to corneal transplantations is too great but this tissue can be used for research purposes.”

“At Moorfields there is ongoing research into numerous eye disease and inherited retinal disease and these donated eyes give us very valuable insight into many conditions because they can shed light on the disease and help to find cures.”

Moorfields is encouraging people to support Yes Eye Did by finding out the best way to care for their eyes and more about eye donation. 

www.moorfields.nhs.uk/yeseyedid goes live on Monday September 21 2015.