Hairy Biker Dave Myers has joined Specsavers in calling for a National Eye Health strategy – to improve the quality of life for those living with sight loss.

The 66-year-old was diagnosed with glaucoma more than 10 years ago, after the condition – commonly dubbed as the silent thief of sight – was detected during an appointment at a high-street opticians.

The dad-of-two was lucky enough that the treatable condition was caught early, and he now manages it with daily eye drops.

But over two million others around the UK are not as fortunate, and are currently at risk of irreversible sight loss due to glaucoma – with 250 people a year going permanently blind because of it.

And those living with sight loss across the UK are costing the economy £36 billion a year, according to data from a recent Specsavers report.

The high-street optometry and audiology brand is now calling for a National Eye Health strategy in England, to improve and standardise eye care access for those who need it.

Dave Myers said: “If the early stages of my glaucoma hadn’t been detected during an eye test, it would have progressed and I could have gone blind.

“This would have been the end of the Hairy Bikers, and massively impacted my quality of life. Not being able to see my children’s faces again would have been heartbreaking.

“Everybody should have access to eye care locally, regardless of where they live – not only to prevent avoidable sight loss, but also to detect other life-threatening conditions.

“Early detection and treatment are essential, so everyone should use their local opticians as a first port of call – they are accessible and affordable.

“I back Specsavers' call for all parties to support the creation and implementation of a National Eye Health strategy in the next Parliament. We all need to work together to support the NHS and improve patient outcomes.”

More than two million people are currently at risk of vision loss due to glaucoma – often referred to as the silent thief of sight, because it is usually symptomless during the first few years.

As many as half of all people with glaucoma are undiagnosed – but when detected early via eye tests, the condition is far more treatable.

Dave added: “I take daily eye drops to manage my glaucoma, and have yearly eye tests. I can proudly say that when wearing my glasses, I have 20:20 vision – so the Hairy Bikers aren’t going anywhere any time soon.”

The data, compiled by Specsavers from NHS England, Royal College of General Practitioners, and other academic papers, also revealed the effects of the pandemic are still felt throughout the NHS – with ophthalmology being the largest and busiest outpatient service.

The eye care backlog accounts for over 650,000 patients – approximately 10% of all those on NHS waiting lists. And over one million A&E attendances last year were for eye-related conditions – more than half of which could have been treated by community opticians.

Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea, and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Vision Impairment, has been leading the campaign in Parliament to have a strategy introduced.

She said: “Health strategies have delivered positive outcomes in Scotland, as they have in England for other diseases – but at present, England is the only country in the UK without an eye health strategy.

“A National Eye Health Strategy would improve the quality of life of people with sight loss, eliminate the postcode lottery, address health inequalities, and link up patient pathways for overall improved health outcomes.

“As someone who has been living with Nystagmus all my life – a condition which causes a repetitive and involuntary movement of the eyes – eye health is a topic close to my heart, and I believe we should make it our goal to ensure that no one loses their sight unnecessarily.”

Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, added: “17.5 million adults in the UK haven’t had an eye test in the past two years, as recommended.

“We support a National Eye Health Strategy, because we believe everyone should have equal access to eye care. 50% of all sight loss is avoidable, but sadly, every week five people lose their sight due to causes that could be preventable.”