A recent study of UK drivers has shown that 20% of middle aged drivers have driven knowing they have poor eyesight, this increases their risk of being involved in a road accident and putting themselves and others unnecessarily at risk.

Other worrying findings were that of this group 28% would put off going for an eye examination for up to six months, but more alarmingly 21% said they would put it off for up to 5 years.

Besides the obvious increase in your chances of being involved in a road accident if you drive with defective vision, it also carries a fine of up to £1,000, three points on your license and a possible driving ban.

Amongst the reasons people had for not having their eyes checked were 43% saying glasses would make them feel older, around 25% 'couldn't be bothered' and 18% blaming the cost of the corrective appliances.

One in three 35 to 55 year old men stated that they wouldn't seek help with their eyes if they noticed their sight deteriorating.

Dr Susan Blakeney, an Optometric Adviser to the College of Optometrists which carried out the study said: “Middle-age is often characterised by the onset of age-related health problems, and it seems failing eyesight is very low down on the list of priorities for most people. This ‘laissez-faire’ attitude is extremely worrying – particularly given that our research findings show millions of people in this age group are driving knowing full well that they can’t see properly."

Dr Blakeney points out that in middle age the lenses in the eyes become less flexible, this can lead to trouble focusing, particularly on close objects. This condition is known as presbyopia.

The warning signs of the onset of presbyopia can include headaches while doing close work, holding books further from the eyes when reading and requiring brighter light whilst reading in dim areas.