One in four over-50s has vision impairment and three quarters have some hearing loss
Groundbreaking research involving eye tests and hearing examinations with more than 500 over-50’s – the first of its kind in the UK – has revealed widespread and largely undetected sensory health issues, prompting urgent calls for funding for a wider study into the nation’s eye health and hearing.
The pilot UK National Eye Health and Hearing Study (UKNEHS) found that a quarter of adults aged 50 and over had vision impairment in at least one eye, 76% had hearing loss and 81% of participants had never undergone a hearing test. Researchers also found that 36% of people had undiagnosed glaucoma.
The study, which took place earlier this year, first tested vision and hearing loss among residents of care homes. In the second phase, people over the age of 50 in randomly selected postcodes across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were invited to be tested.
.At an event in London on October 10, sensory loss charities, policy makers and researchers discussed the findings and launched a campaign for the study to be extended across the UK. The researchers are calling for full support and funding from all four UK governments.
Rupert Bourne, Professor of Ophthalmology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and principal investigator of the study, said: “These figures are deeply concerning. They show that sensory health is being overlooked, even among high-risk groups. We are missing critical opportunities to prevent avoidable sight and hearing loss.”
Professor Bourne added: “This lack of data means we are unable to measure the true scale of unmet need or evaluate the effectiveness of existing services. This is not just a data gap – it is a public health infrastructure gap. The UK National Eye Health and Hearing Study aims to provide the baseline data needed to shape more effective, targeted, and equitable health and social care services.”
It was covered in The Guardian:
… and a film was made of the study- this is the QR code to it… or view at: UK NEHS: UK national eye-health and hearing study on Vimeo
