West London Christmas festivities are well underway, and on December 3rd the team from Specsavers Hammersmith were out in full force in support of Hammersmith Christmas Market situated in Lyric Square, in the heart of the local community.

Organised by Hammersmith BID, the Christmas Market saw a host of local businesses selling gifts and various local delicacies including honey, home-made jams and chutneys in preparation for those Christmas celebrations with friends and family.

Specsavers Hammersmith were sponsors of the glittering Bauble Trail, which attracted over five hundred people and was extremely popular with the children, who loved the adventure of searching for ten baubles hidden around the different stores in Hammersmith. Winners of the competition won a pair of antlers which they proudly displayed!
Taking eye care and hearing into the heart of the community, the Specsavers Hammersmith team were on hand to answer any questions and to raise awareness of the importance of eye health, including regular sight tests which can pick up underlying health conditions, as they are an overall indicator of general health and wellbeing. For those passers-by who may not have had a sight test during the last two years or so, a member of the team was able to book in an appointment with the Concierge I-Pad, making it streamlined and easy.

In support of the festive spirit, visitors to the stand were given Christmas goodies such as lens cleaners, glasses cases, contact lens vouchers, sweets and balloons for the children. Everyone who booked an appointment was also given a £10 sight test voucher, saving them up to £15, as a normal sight test is £25.

Children’s eye health was also highlighted, as it is estimated that 1.6 million school-aged children are living with an undetected eye problem in England[1]. With parents being advised to make their children’s eye health a top priority after a recent study[2] revealed myopia among children increased significantly during the pandemic which can impact on their learning at school and their confidence.

Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is thought to affect one in three people in the UK and usually occurs when the eyes grow slightly too long meaning that light doesn’t focus on the light-sensitive tissue (retina) at the back of the eye properly. In 2020 and into 2021, many children were spending aas much as six hours a day on smartphones and other digital devices[3] which is a contributing factor to the increase in myopia.

Priyanka Matrubai, Ophthalmic Director commented on the Christmas event and said; ‘We were delighted to support the Hammersmith BID and to take part in this Christmas celebration which brought the whole community together. The response we received from visitors to the stand was just amazing, they were all so positive and the response from passers-by was overwhelming. We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas celebration.’

Specsavers Hammersmith have a mix of private and NHS patients, and for those wanting to book a sight test, all children under 16, as well as those under 19 in full-time education, are entitled to an NHS funded free eye test, along with adults who meet the qualifying criteria.