Seven out of 10 bus and lorry drivers across the UK ignore NHS guidance to get regular eye tests despite 85% needing to wear glasses or lenses, research reveals - while almost half have had crashes in last two years. The study, conducted by contact lens retailer Lenstore, quizzed 2,000 UK drivers on their eye health and recent optician visits and revealed that millions are not up to date on their routine eye exams.
Half of UK drivers have either not had their eyes tested within the last two years, or never had them tested at all. More than 30 million UK drivers respondents (73% of respondents) also indicated that they are wearing glasses or contact lenses, thus risking that their prescriptions are no longer up to date.
Over one in ten drivers (11%) even admitted that they have never had their eyes professionally tested by a specialist before. Short-sightedness emerged as the most common eyesight issue in the study, impacting 9.5 million drivers (23% of respondents).
Almost one in five drivers (19%) also suffered from long sightedness, while 18% complained of experiencing 'eye floaters' in their vision. Bus and lorry drivers took the top spot for ignoring eye test advice, as over two-thirds (69%) failed to regularly visit their optician for a check-up. They were followed by motorcyclists (57%) and car and van drivers (50%).
The most common eyesight issues for bus and lorry drivers were long sightedness (33%) and short sightedness (19%). The vast majority of bus and lorry drivers in the study (84%) use prescription glasses, contact lenses or a combination of both, meaning many could be driving with outdated prescriptions.
Worryingly, 45% of bus and lorry drivers in the study have also been involved in a road traffic accident within the last two years, with a quarter of respondents involved in two or more (25%). When it comes to age, young drivers between 25-34 years-old were the most likely to have not had a recent eye test (68%), while almost one in four (23%) said they had never had their eyes tested.
Worryingly, over two-thirds of respondents (71%) from this age group also complained of eyesight issues, the highest percentage of any age group in the study. Drivers between the ages of 25-34 were also the most likely to be involved in a road traffic accident, with over a third (38%) stating they had been involved in a crash within the last two years.
Despite a greater chance of eyesight deterioration than for younger generations, over two-fifths (43%) of those aged between 45-54 said they did not have a recent eye test, leaving them vulnerable to future eye health problems. In the regional breakdown, Belfast drivers were also the most likely to ignore NHS guidance when it comes to their eyesight, with almost three quarters of locals (73%) stating they had not had their eyes tested within the last two years.
Almost one in four drivers (24%) from Belfast even stated they had never had their eyes tested. They were followed by Glasgow (22%) and Bristol (20%). On the other hand, Liverpool drivers were the most likely to follow NHS guidance.
Despite being the most 'careful city' however, over a third (38%) of Liverpool residents still have not had a recent eye test. They were closely followed by drivers from Southampton (39%) and Nottingham (39%). Sujata Paul, contact lens optician and professional services clinical lead at Lenstore, said: "Having regular eye tests is one of the most important things you can do for your health, even if you think you have perfect vision.
"That is because eye tests can not only reveal early signs of eye conditions like glaucoma, but also help detect other health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We strongly encourage all drivers, especially those who wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, to make sure they are up to date on routine eye examinations by visiting a qualified optometrist every two years.
"When it comes to reducing the number of preventable car accidents on our roads, regular eye tests are one of the best measures we have, and one day having yours could even save someone's life."
For more information, please visit: https://www.lenstore.co.uk/eyecare/uk-drivers-eye-test-guidance
