THOUSANDS of people across York, North and East Yorkshire could be walking around with undetected serious eye and health conditions having missed eye tests during the pandemic.

Opticians warn that problems such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and even heart disease, because they've missed their regular eye test during the pandemic.

Survey findings released by Specsavers indicate more than a third or 37 per cent of those in Yorkshire missed an eye test between March and September 2020, meaning many may have an underlying eye or health condition that they are unaware of.

The research by Specsavers has revealed at least ten per cent across the region fear they might have a serious underlying sight condition, while five per cent worry that they have a potentially significant issue with their hearing.

Further data from Specsavers shows there were 227,717 missed appointments across the region from March – September last year. The figures are significant when compared with the total 725,861 tests taken across the region in 2019.

Giles Edmonds, Specsavers clinical services director, said: "Regular examinations are capable of picking up so much more than whether or not someone can see normally.

"During the last 12 months, we have made far fewer referrals and detected far less anomalies than would be expected in this time period because people have been cancelling their appointments for various reasons like self-isolating or nervousness around leaving their home.

"Understandably, many have missed appointments due to the pandemic, however so many potentially dangerous potential illnesses are highlighted during eye tests.

"And when you consider the number who have missed a test in the last year, there are potentially a high number of people going about their lives with no idea about potentially catastrophic illness that could be avoided by having a simple test."

The research shows that many were aware a standard eye test can detect cataracts, glaucoma or retinal detachments, however 86 per cent were unaware they can identify signs of a potential stroke.