Somerset Sight's Mobile Advisory Service travels around Somerset offering information, advice and aids for people with sight loss. Check out their Facebook page for weekly location information or visit Somerset Sight.

You can help keep your eyes healthy by:

• not smoking – smoking damages the eye, making it more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration and cataracts
• eating lots of fruit and vegetables
• protecting them from the sun by wearing sunglasses

If you’re 60 or over, you can have a free NHS eye test every two years. You can have a free test every year if you’re 70 or over. 

If you:

• have diabetes, you can get diabetic eye screening to check for eye problems
• are worried about falls or have had a fall
• need help with normal daily activities after illness or injury

Your eyes should give you a lifetime’s service, but sometimes they can be affected by conditions that develop as you grow older. Get your eyes checked regularly.

It’s easy to neglect your eyes because they rarely hurt when there’s a problem. Having an eye test will not only tell you if you need new glasses, it will also check the health of the eye and can spot eye conditions before you become aware of them so they can be treated early. If you have a low income, you may be eligible for help with the cost should you need glasses or contact lenses.

An eye test can pick up eye conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts, as well as general health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.