It’s that time of year again — moustaches are sprouting everywhere for Movember, raising awareness of men’s health. But beyond the facial fur lies an important message: too many men still neglect their wellbeing, and this includes their eyes and hearing.
Men’s Health: The Facts
Men are statistically more likely than women to avoid health check-ups. In the UK, 64% of men delay visiting a GP even when they notice worrying symptoms. Shockingly, over 133,000 men die prematurely each year, many from preventable causes. Mental health is another hidden issue — men account for three-quarters of all suicides in the UK.
Movember exists to change that. And at Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care, we’re here to remind men that taking care of their eyes and ears is a key part of staying healthy, happy and connected.
Why Men Shouldn’t Ignore Their Eyes
Men often present with vision problems later than women, and if this is due to disease and not just simply needing glasses, damage may be already advanced and more difficult to treat.
Glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration can all creep up silently — with symptoms so gradual that they’re easy to miss. Regular eye tests can detect these early, protecting vision for the long term.
Diabetes is an important condition to be aware of, Diabetes UK estimate that 1.3 million people in the UK having undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Some of the signs of diabetes can be picked up during an eye examination – such as leaky blood vessels or unusual vision changes. Type 2 is more common in men than women so it’s likely more of those that are undiagnosed are men. Symptoms such as increased thirst, needing the loo in the night and weight loss can all be attributed to other causes – but should never be ignored.
Hearing Loss: A Hidden Men’s Health Issue
Hearing loss affects nearly twice as many men as women. Why? Often it’s due to higher exposure to noisy environments — whether through work, hobbies, or simply loud music. Over time, unprotected ears can suffer permanent damage.
Untreated hearing loss doesn’t just make conversation harder; it’s linked to social isolation, cognitive decline, and even depression. Routine hearing checks are quick, painless, and can make a huge difference to quality of life.
Studies show men are more likely to develop impacted earwax that causes symptoms.
Some research suggests men are twice as likely as women to have symptomatic earwax impaction. Men may produce slightly more cerumen and hair growth in the ear canal which is thought to be due to Hormonal and glandular differences. Earwax build-up can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, itchiness, or discomfort.
How to Encourage the Men in your life to Take Action
If you are a woman reading this and find that getting the men in your life to look after their health takes some persuading. Try these practical ideas:
- Book together – make it a joint appointment (and grab a coffee after).
- Link it to what matters – “so you can hear the grandchildren properly” for example
- Lead by example – show you’re up to date with your own check-ups.
- Remind them it’s quick – both eye and hearing tests usually take under an hour.
Make Movember the Moment to Act
This Movember, why not give the men in your life a nudge to prioritise their wellbeing? At Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care, we offer thorough eye examinations, free hearing assessments, and friendly advice to help every man protect the senses that shape his world.
Book an appointment today — because your health deserves attention, moustache or not!
