EAST Renfrewshire residents are being urged to have their eyes and ears checked...as it might just save their life.

The plea has been issued by staff at the Specsavers store in Newton Mearns to coincide with World Health Day.

They have said the test not only help to preserve vision and hearing but can also pick up signs of other underlying conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and even brain tumours.

Emma Robb, optometry director at Specsavers in Newton Mearns, said: "A trip to the optician can do so much more than check your vision.

"Less than half the time taken during an eye appointment involves testing sight. Most of the time, we are assessing the health of the eye itself and signs of your wider health too."

Opticians look for indicators of eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, as well as general health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Emma added: "We encourage everyone to get their eyes checked at least every two years. As well as a check of your vision, a routine sight test might just reveal a more serious sight-threatening or wider health condition."

According to experts at Specsavers, hearing checks can also help in the battle against dementia.

Research has found there is an increased risk of disability and dementia in those with hearing loss – and, in men only, an increased risk of depression.

John Stewart, audiology director at Specsavers in Newton Mearns, said: "Having your hearing tested could be a simple step to ensure you are taking care of your ear health and, in turn, could reduce your chance of developing dementia.

"Hearing loss can sometimes be sudden but, more often than not, it happens gradually and you may not notice it at first, so it’s worth having your hearing tested every two years regardless, once you reach 55.

"For many, it can take up to 10 years to seek help for hearing loss but don’t put it off – it may do more for your health than you realise."

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