Despite being highly fragile organs, eyes are often neglected and most of us don't give them much thought day-to-day. Yet if you asked people which sense they would miss the most, the majority would undoubtedly say their sight. Unfortunately, eye conditions can creep on gradually, without us noticing until they start to become more serious.

According to figures from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss, which could have been avoided in over 50 per cent of cases. And this number is set to increase alongside Britain's ageing population, with up to four million people predicted to be living with sight loss in 2050 €“ a worrying statistic considering over one-third of older people with sight loss also suffer from depression.

Like so many ailments, eye problems vary in their severity. Some problems can be unsightly, irritating and perhaps embarrassing, but are nonetheless minor and can be easily treated. Whereas others, like glaucoma, can cause permanent blindness if untreated and some can even be the result of poorly managed medical conditions, such is the case in diabetic retinopathy.

Although it is unlikely that you will regularly encounter serious eye concerns in the pharmacy, it's important to be aware of such conditions so that you can advise customers on how to reduce their risk and know who to refer to the pharmacist.