I'm 83 and I agree, I still drive and with glasses I can see as good as anybody. Without them I can see as good as most. But as Woolwell says age is not the qualifying factor in whether you can see properly. Many drivers I know are well under 50 and don't even realise they can't see properly. I've been in cars with young people and asked them to read the number plate of the vehicle in front, and some of them can't even read it at about ten feet. I think all drivers should be tested every few years irrespective of age.

Not compulsory but we get our eyes tested every 2 years.

You don't need to be old to have poor eyesight it can happen at any age.

I reckon, with the fairly recent upsurgence / plethora of smart phones and 'tablets', and therefore, the deterioration of the eyesight of our nation's yoof, an opthalmic 'tinged' study/degree might be a potentially lucrative course of study ;o]

Aitchbee - How do you manage to link the use of smartphones and tablets to deterioration of eyesight?

I think the reason many people don't go for eye tests is because of the cost of the resulting glasses.

There are lots of places that offer free tests for everyone, Tescos opticians for instance, but they tend to push the 'Designer' frames to compensate. They do have lower priced frames available but tend to avoid them. Having said that you can get quite good deals. My wife had two pairs of Titanium frames with reading and distance lenses for £99 all in. I had 2 pairs with Varifocal lenses (extra cost) one pair with Reactolite (extra cost) and anti reflection coating on both (extra cost), but even this only came in at £270. I've paid this for just one pair in the past at an independent optician.

There are vouchers available for some people on certain benefits and if you think you may be eligible you should look into this.

The other benefit of getting an eye test is that certain illnesses can be detected, and if you have cataracts forming you now need to referred by an Optician, your doctor will no longer do this. Cataracts form slowly and you won't normally realise until they are well advanced and your eyesight affected. Its amazing how good everything looks when they have been removed, its life changing.