The visual health of the Spaniards worsens with the crisis.

-the economic crisis reduces the frequency of visits to the óptico-optometrista to update the graduation of glasses or contact lenses or, simply, to undergo a visual review. This decrease negatively affects the quality of the vision of the Spaniards, which can affect aspects as diverse as driving, work or school performance of children

– in the past three years, the turnover of the health facilities in optics has been reduced by 25%. On the other hand, has increased the sale of single glasses, whose continued use can cause dizziness and headaches, as well as difficulty and fatigue at the reading

– many people delay or avoid visits to the óptico-optometrista influenced by the economic situation. However, on the market there are quality solutions that are accessible for all types of patients ”, points out Juan Carlos Martínez morale, President of the Council of Ópticos-Optometristas

Madrid, February of 2012.- today begins the 22nd International Congress of optometry, contact lenses and optics Oftálmica (OPTOM 2012). This event, organized by the General Council of Ópticos-Optometristas schools, is the most important event in the sector of optics and optometry, coinciding with the celebration of ExpoÓptica.

The economic crisis, understandably, also affects this sector, that Bill more than 1.8 billion euros per year. The General Council of Ópticos-Optometristas schools estimated that in the last three years has been a 25% decrease in billing. The least affected have been independent optical retailers in 2011 saw reduced its turnover by 7%.

Less Visual reviews

However, more worrying for the collective of ópticos-optometristas is the deterioration of visual health taking place during the crisis. Many people delay or avoid visits to the óptico-optometrista influenced by the economic situation. However, on the market there are quality solutions that are accessible for all types of patients ”, Juan Carlos Martínez morale, President of the General Council of schools of Ópticos-Optometristas points.

In particular, the General Council noted a notable decline in the frequency of visits to the óptico-optometrista to undergo the relevant Visual reviews. These reviews are essential to ensure a correct visual health, especially if the patient needs an optical compensation. Thus, for example, presbyopia or eye strain evolves over time, so a particular optical solution is valid for approximately two years ”, recalls Martínez morality. Past that time, should undertake a review ”, points out.

Impaired uncorrected or corrected inadequately can cause various problems:

-difficulties in driving. Visual conditions are crucial for driving and are closely related to accidents arising from human error and Visual distractions. Visit the óptico-optometrista at least once a year ensures that our vision is in perfect condition to drive. However, 46 per cent of motorists do not, while 24% of drivers is affected by, at least, a deficiency visual.

-labor problems. Every day we use more technology to work as well as entertainment. Your continued use of e-books, tablets, iPad, iPhone, computers and mobile phones causes eyestrain. Defects not corrected, even of small magnitude, such as farsightedness, eye strain or astigmatism, as well as dysfunctions in the accommodation or binocular vision, can contribute to that bothersome symptoms arising out of the, every day, I suffer greater Visual demands in vision next.

-school failure. 25% Of schoolchildren suffer Visual problems that may affect their academic performance, myopia to be a problem that is on the rise among students. The General Council of Ópticos-Optometristas schools stressed the importance of children attending the óptico-optometrista at least once a year to detect possible Visual problems affecting its performance, but are of easy solution. parents should be aware that almost 30% of the cases of school failure is due to Visual problems and that investing in the health Visual children is fundamental to their learning and quality of life ”, says Martínez morality.

Increase in the use of sunglasses premontadas

In addition to the crisis, the ignorance of users or avoiding a visual review are the other two reasons for which has increased the sale of single glasses.

Single glasses, which can be purchased at different points of sale (gas stations, bazaars) without any sanitary control, often wrongly used to correct presbyopia or eyestrain. In this sense, Moral Martínez warns that this kind of sunglasses are nothing more than increase lenses that are manufactured form standardized for all users ”.

Single glasses lenses are made mostly with injected plastic and without any treatment of optical surfaces, so the image they produce has a lot of alterations. And what is most worrying is that its continued use can cause dizziness and headaches, as well as difficulty and fatigue in reading.

Therefore, the General Council of Ópticos-Optometristas schools recommends going to a health establishment of optics, where a óptico-optometrista is in charge of assessing the Visual problems of each patient to adapt the most appropriate correction with the maximum guarantee of quality.

OPTOM 2012, the Congress of optometry and ophthalmic optics sector

During on 17, 18 and 19 February is celebrated in IFEMA (Madrid) the 22nd International Congress of optometry, contact lenses and optics Oftálmica, OPTOM 2012, organized by the General Council of schools of opticians optometrists. This event, which brings together more than 1,300 participants, mostly ópticos-optometristas, is one of the most important científico-profesionales events on an international scale.

In this Edition, OPTOM 2012 shares the same physical space with ExpoÓptica (international exhibition of optics and optometry).