Stars including TV presenter Angellica Bell and Status Quo’s Richie Malone and John Edwards stepped onto the Vision Van for their essential check up
Celebrity guests and festivalgoers were warned of the dangers of not having regular eye tests, as the Vision Express Vision Van hit the fun-filled CarFest South event
Television presenter Angellica Bell and Status Quo band members, Richie Malone and John Edwards, all took advantage of the free healthcare initiative as it revved into the motoring and music festival in Hampshire.
The initiative by Vision Express, which offered free eye tests on its mobile Vision Van, revealed:
- One in five hadn’t had an eye test in the last decade
- 90% were overdue an eye test
- 14% had not had an eye examination since passing their driving test
- 84% required a new prescription.
The adrenaline-packed weekend festival took place from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th August, at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire. Vision Express parked up its Vision Van with the support of partner ACUVUE®, inviting visitors on board for free eye tests, contact lens trials and the chance to take a virtual ride in a Formula One car, with the help of virtual reality headsets.
The event, however, wasn’t all fun and games, with statistics from the Vision Van raising serious concern for eye health neglect. It was discovered that over 90% of visitors to the Van were overdue an eye test, while a worrying 84% required a new prescription.
Worse still, one in five visitors hadn’t had an eye test within the last decade. A further 14% of visitors had not had their vision tested since passing their driving test – a warning sign considering an estimated 3,000 accidents on the country’s roads each year are down to poor driver sight.
One visitor to the van was 38-year-old Martin Daniel Smith, a freelance actor from Sunderland, whose last eye test was a staggering 18 years ago. Martin said: “I just assumed I didn’t have a problem, but I started to realise that my eyes aren’t as healthy as they used to be.
“Vision Express saved my friend’s life after they detected a tumour. So, if you are putting off getting an eye test, just do it- even if it’s just for peace of mind.”
Another guest to the Van was Adam Spaull, 47, from Maidstone, who decided to take advantage of the free initiative after experiencing difficulties reading screens on smartphones and tablets. Adam found out he had astigmatism in both eyes and was referred for further consultation. He commented: “It was well worth the visit. I hadn’t had an eye test in nearly five years and had been putting it off. I’ll definitely be keeping on top of my eye health from now on – it should be like going to the dentist – it’s one of those things you just have to do.”
Vision Express has been raising awareness of the dangers of driving without roadworthy vision since November 2015, as part of its #EyeTestsSaveLives campaign. A DVLA survey released earlier this month revealed that only 50% of drivers are aware of what constitutes roadworthy vision, demonstrating the need for greater awareness of regular visits to an optician.
Jonathan Lawson, CEO of Vision Express, said: “It was great to see so much enthusiasm for our Vision Van and to have our celebrity guests and festivalgoers join us to learn about the importance of good eye health practices, which includes an eye exam every two years.
“Our ‘Eye Tests Save Lives’ campaign is committed to reducing the number of vision-related accidents on our roads. The stastics from CarFest South show that a lot still needs to be done to educate the general public about the potential dangers they could be posing not just to themselves but to others.”
