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Nearly 50 per cent of Londoners over the age of 65 participating in a recent study were found to have correctable vision problems.

About a third of those surveyed had low vision which simply required correction with new spectacles.

The study, published to mark World Sight Day (October 9), was commissioned by the Thomas Pocklington Trust, a charity which aims to improve the quality of life of people with vision loss.

When spectacles were supplied, researchers found a direct correlation between the degree of improvement in vision and the gains in the quality of life.

'The notion that older people with visual problems will fully engage in eye care services is clearly nothing more than an ideal,' said Professor Bruce Evans, author of Improving the detection of correctable low vision in older people. 'This research confirms there is a high level of correctable visual loss among older people and shows the need for methods to encourage them to seek eye care.'

Researchers also called for an increase in the NHS optical voucher value. They said almost a third of South London practices did not provide spectacles whose cost was fully covered by vouchers. There was also a call for English eye care to be funded along the same lines as the Scottish system.

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