Côr Meibion Bro Glyndŵr Choir in Corwen has teamed up with Specsavers to raise awareness of urgent eye health services in Wales.

The male voice choir was approached to perform a specially written song encouraging people with sudden onset vision problems  to phone their local Specsavers store rather than their GP or other NHS services.  

The idea is to reduce the strain on GPs by encouraging people to contact specialist opticians to assess eye problems in the first instance. 

A poll from YouGov found almost three quarters (73%) of North Wales adults wouldn’t visit an optician initially if they woke up with an eye problem.

The choir’s performance of the song will be released on Specsavers' social media channels on Wednesday, November 6.

With lines including: 'Is it itchy? Is it dry? Someone poked you in the eye?' the high street optician hopes it will stick in people's heads as a reminder if they experience sudden vision problems.

Ann Atkinson Sharp, musical director of Côr Meibion Bro Glyndŵr said: "We hope this collaboration will encourage people to prioritise their eye health and seek help early - before small issues turn into bigger problems."

The survey, commissioned by Specsavers, polled 1,000 adults in Wales and revealed more than half (55%) of North Wales respondents would contact another NHS service - such as their GP, pharmacy, eye hospital, NHS 111 or A&E - if they woke up with eye issues, rather than their local optician.

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With NHS waiting lists in Wales reaching a record high, according to the Welsh Government, individuals experiencing new symptoms around their eyes and vision are being encouraged to contact their nearest Specsavers.

Symptoms of concern include sudden-onset blurred or cloudy vision, loss of vision, floaters, flashing lights, red eyes or sensitivity to light, eye irritation, inflammation, swollen or puffy eye lids or ingrowing eyelashes.

A number of eye treatments at Specsavers are fully funded by NHS Wales so there may not be a fee. To find out more visit www.specsavers.co.uk/eye-health/eye-services-wales.

Welsh Government data shows more than 27,000 patients in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board region are waiting over a year for their first outpatient appointment. Specsavers can provide direct care for urgent eye issues, avoiding unnecessary visits to A&E or lengthy waits for GP appointments.

Michael Bradbury, lead clinical performance consultant for Specsavers in Wales  said: "The survey results highlight that there isn’t enough awareness of exactly when you should visit your opticians and the expert support that goes beyond your routine sight check.

"Specsavers works in partnership with NHS Wales to provide care for urgent eye issues on the high street, booked by making a quick phone call to your local store. Our optometrists are here to help and provide an urgent appointment if you need it. A number of the services are fully funded by NHS Wales too.

"Our goal is to make sure even more people are aware that they can turn to us first for eye health concerns, helping them get the care they need quickly, while easing pressure on other healthcare services."

The service, funded by NHS Wales, is available to all Welsh residents under the Welsh General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS). For non-Welsh residents who develop sudden eye issues while on holiday, assessment, diagnosis and support will still be available at your nearest Specsavers store.