Spot tests on drivers reveal acuity concerns

One in five drivers screened at petrol stations during a campaign to increase awareness of the importance of eye health were urged to visit their optician.

On-the-spot eye tests of drivers stopping for fuel were carried out by local opticians as part of the Think About Your Eyes campaign run by Essilor and Esso. Ninety-five motorists were examined during the initiative, with 11 failing legal vision standards and seven described as ‘borderline’.

Esso and Essilor recruited independent opticians, town mayors, motoring personalities and campaigners to urge drivers to get more regular eye tests and said that 2,900 accidents yearly were blamed on poor vision which costs the country an estimated £33m.