A row of people stand outside Specsavers wearing Nystagmus Network T-shirts.

Leicester optician puts nystagmus in Focus

Having nystagmus hasn’t stopped Leicester’s Khalil Musani from forging a career in optics and helping others look after their eyes

When Khalil secured a Saturday job at a Leicester opticians in 2017 it proved to be the catalyst to fulfilling his ambition to work in optometry. 

Now, aged 21, and assistant manager at Specsavers Leicester, Khalil wants to raise awareness of nystagmus, the condition he has lived with for most of his life, alongside building a career in optics.

On Nystagmus Awareness Day 2022, Khalil and his entire staff team donned Nystagmus Network T-shirts and wristbands to raise awareness of nystagmus and support the work of the charity.

For his tremendous support, raising awareness of nystagmus and to honour his career success, the Nystagmus Network has nominated Khalil one of the ‘nystagmus champions’ of 2022. Join us to celebrate Khalil and all the nystagmus champions of 2022 at Open Day.

Khalil’s inspiring story has been told in local press articles in print and online.

Read a Leicester Times article online here

A woman undergoing a sight test.

The State of the UK’s Eye Health

A NEW report paints a stark picture of the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on eye health in Britain – with experts warning of a ‘ticking timebomb’ and significant fallout for years to come. The State of the UK’s Eye Health 2021 report, commissioned by Specsavers in collaboration with leading eye health experts and charities, counts not only the additional financial burden now facing society but, more worryingly, the real cost to people’s sight.

With more than 4.3 million fewer eye examinations provided (a 23% drop) and more than 235,000 necessary eye hospital appointments missed or delayed throughout the pandemic, eye health experts are predicting a surge of referrals to ophthalmology services, which are already stretched. Early detection and management of eye conditions is vital so any delay could be detrimental. 

Read The State of the UK’s Eye Health 2021 report on the Visionary website

Reading an optician’s prescription

Although glasses cannot stop nystagmus they can correct refractive errors, such as long or short sight and astigmatism, to make the sight as clear as it can be.

Do you understand what all the numbers and words actually mean on your prescription? Specsavers have made a handy video explaining everything. Watch here to find out from Dr Nigel Best DOptom MCOptom FBCLA FAAO, a qualified Specsavers optometrist.

Watch the video here.