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Alan Campbell MP opens new opticial store in North Shields

ByDave Stopher

Jun 22, 2018

Vision Express calls on community to prioritise sight, amid reports that over 7,000 North Tynesiders are living with suspected glaucoma

As the UK welcomes National Glaucoma Awareness Week (4-10 June 2018), the doors have been officially opened to the new ‘Vision Express at Tesco’ store in North Shields with a celebration led by Alan Campbell MP – as results indicate a worrying outlook for eye health in North Tyneside.

MP for the Tynemouth constituency, Alan who is well known locally for spearheading positive change, was invited as guest of honour to perform a ribbon cutting at the Norham Road Tesco Extra store. There, he joined the optical team in welcoming the local community to the new store while encouraging them to prioritise their eye health.  

In North Tyneside, 7,139[1] locals are living with suspected glaucoma, the silent thief of sight. One of the biggest causes of preventable sight loss worldwide, glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye conditions in which the main nerve to the eye (the optic nerve) is damaged where it leaves the eye. This nerve carries information about what is being seen from the eye to the brain and, as it becomes damaged, vision is lost. An estimated 600,000 people in the UK have glaucoma, yet research[2] indicates half of those are undiagnosed.

”Eye health is a growing issue and I would encourage everyone to have regular eye tests and take their vision seriously,” said Alan. “I am proud to support this event and raise awareness amongst my constituents, especially those who drive, with research revealing there are almost 3,000 road casualties a year caused by poor driver sight.”

Gary Coates, ‘Vision Express at Tesco’ North Shields store manager said: “It’s fantastic to have our local MP, Alan Campbell, join the team to officially open our new store.

“We had a fantastic day celebrating the opening and it’s great that Vision Express is now in such a convenient location for local people to drop in. With state-of-the-art examining equipment, our team is looking forward to delivering a personal and thorough vision care service, to both new and existing customers.”    

The North Shields store is one of more than 200 outlets launching across the UK in 2018, following Vision Express’ acquisition of Tesco Opticians at the end of last year.  

 Showcasing a purple-infused rebrand being introduced across the entire Vision Express network, the new stores feature a refreshed logo, striking purple and green colour décor, bright sofas and wooden flooring; delivering a modern, inviting and vibrant environment to encourage customers to feel at ease.   

Vision Express CEO Jonathan Lawson added: “This is a hugely exciting time for the Vision Express family, and we’re delighted to welcome new team members to the company and provide a seamless eye health service to former Tesco optical customers.   

“Crucially, we’re pleased to now be able to offer our vision expertise in convenient locations to residents. With more than 7,000 people in the area at risk of suspected glaucoma, safeguarding sight through regular eye exams with a trusted optician has never been more important.”