Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies has pledged his support for National Eye Health Week, which takes place between 17-23 September. National Eye Health Week brings organisations and health professionals from across the UK together to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health and the need for regular sight tests.

Mr Davies said, "I'm pleased to be backing National Eye Health Week, which is a fantastic way of raising awareness of good eye care across Wales. It is also an opportunity to look at national and local policies to ensure that eye health gets the attention it deserves and I will be raising this issue in the Assembly Chamber in the future. Sadly, the number of people with sight loss is expected to double over the coming years and so more needs to be done to raise the profile of sight loss and educate people on the importance of eye health."

"I have received representations from constituents in desperate need of cataract treatment, many of whom have been told that they cannot receive the treatment that they urgently need. Sadly, the refusal of such treatment can cause health and lifestyle problems for these patients in the long term and have a negative impact on the quality of people's lives. National Eye Health Week is a great opportunity to highlight issues such as cataract treatment alongside the importance of good eye health, to ensure that these issues are constantly being heard at an Assembly level."

Ceri Jackson, Chair of the National Eye Health Week steering group in Wales, said: "Fifty per cent of sight loss is avoidable, and the single most important thing that people can do to protect their sight is to go for a test every two years. Many people think that a sight test is just about checking whether your vision needs correcting with glasses or contact lenses, but a sight test is also a vital check of the health of the eyes and includes the detection of eye conditions. Many of these have no early symptoms, but when they are detected early then the right type of treatment could save your sight.

"National Eye Health Week is an opportunity for people to come together and raise awareness of the need to be proactive about our eye health in the same way as we would in relation to other health conditions. I'm delighted that Paul has pledged his support and hope that as many people as possible can join us during the week in doing their bit to stop people losing their sight unnecessarily."