Take Action for Good Eye Health: National Eye Health Week 2026

2 September 2026

National Eye Health Week 21–27 September 2026

Eye Health UK, the charity responsible for running National Eye Health Week (NEHW), is inviting LOCs to come together with their local community to focus on action for good eye health during the Week, which takes place 21-27 September 2026.

Action to improve uptake of primary eye care services and encourage more people to adopt healthy habits to benefit their eye health is needed to address the mounting tide of age-related and sight-threatening eye conditions and ever-increasing pressure on NHS services.

David Cartwright, chair of the charity, explains: “Real change depends on collaboration, and events like NEHW help build on the momentum we need to improve the state of the nation’s eye health, prevent avoidable sight loss and showcase the invaluable work carried out in optical practices on a daily basis.”

Throughout the week powerful real-life stories, research, media and targeted community outreach will be used to share important advice about the everyday habits, routine check-ups & urgent care that are essential to help people live and see well.

Each day of the week is themed to keep the conversation fresh. Themes address common barriers to uptake of eyecare services; focus on groups at increased risk of avoidable sight loss and put eyecare at the heart of healthy living.

• Primary eye care services, focuses on routine sight tests and enhanced primary eye care services.
• Children’s eye health, everything parents need to know about looking after their children’s eyes and why kids’ eye care is essential for giving them the ‘best start in life’.
• Dry eyes, as cases of dry eye continue to rise NEHW will explore its associations with screen use, menopause, ageing and contact lens wear.
• Live well to see well, information about the healthy habits we should all adopt to benefit our eye health.
• Self-care Fr-eye-day, a special day sharing every day eye care tips.
• Life through a lens, news about lens technologies and a peek at the latest eyewear fashion trends.
• Ageing eyes, links to falls, dementia, age-related eye conditions + comorbidities.

Promotional toolkits can be downloaded from the campaign website from early September. The toolkits include posters, leaflets, recipe cards, infographics, template letters for MPs, schools packs and social assets.

Other tools available to help practices make the most of the week include an exclusive podcast; online risk checker, sight loss simulator and much more.

National activity run by the charity will include the publication of a new eye health report as well as changemaker briefings designed to raise optics up the public health agenda by involving political and public health champions.

No matter how you plan to mark NEHW everyone is encouraged to join the social conversation by including the hashtags #EyeWeek or #VisionMatters on their posts or ‘liking’ and ‘sharing’ social content on the official NEHW social channels:

• Instagram @NationalEyeHealthWeek
• Twitter @myvisionmatters
• Facebook @NationalEyeHealthWeek

For more on how you can get involved and take action for good eye health this NEHW (21 to 27 September) contact rachel@visionmatters.org.uk.

Opportunities include:

• Local and national media commentary
• Placement of patient case studies
• Support for local community promotions
• Hosting a Ties 4 Eyes event.