Opticians were looking out for those with sight loss as part of a week-long charity drive while encouraging residents to get their eyes tested.

The teams from the Specsavers High Street, Rickmansworth and High Street, Watford joined forces to raise more than £650 for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) last week.

The stores donated £1 for every eye test conducted in store as part of National Eye Health Week to the charity which supports those living with sight loss.

The initiative kicked off after Specsavers worked with the RNIB to find that one in five people will live with sight loss in their lifetime despite at least half of all cases being avoidable.

Specsavers Rickmansworth and Watford store director Aftab Sham, said: “Our survey showed that sight was the sense that people feared losing most. However, 25 per cent of people are not having an eye test every two years[ii] as recommended by the College of Optometrists[iii].

“And in the knowledge that at least half of all cases of sight loss are avoidable, we were spurred on to renew our call to residents in Rickmansworth and Watford to make time for regular eye tests.

“An eye test not only monitors changes in your vision, but is an important health check too.

“We are happy to have shone a light on this important subject during National Eye Health Week and to have raised £658 in support of RNIB’s vital work in the process.”

For more information visit www.specsavers.co.uk or contact the Rickmansworth store on 01923 293100 or the Watford team on 01923 228888.