Somerset residents likely to have hidden eye condition

The findings come from leading opticians, Specsavers, and reference the common condition known as presbyopia.

It's most common in over-40s, and involves the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects, but is considered a natural part of ageing.

The research found holding something at arm’s length to read it, increasing the font size on a mobile phone, and asking to borrow people’s glasses were some of the most common behaviours people from Somerset adopted to compensate for a change in their vision.

The survey also revealed that the changes to vision can lead to some blunders, with many of those surveyed in the region admitting to reading their bus number incorrectly (19%) or struggling to read maps (23%).

Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in your mid to late 40s and gradually worsens until 65.

An optician will check your vision in the same way as they would to determine whether someone is short-sighted or ‘myopic’.

Paul Bradford, a director at Specsavers Minehead, says: "Most of us will experience some effects of presbyopia as we age because of subtle changes in the lens of our eye.

"However, it really isn’t something to worry about, but it is important to see an optician if you experience any changes in your vision.

"There are a variety of solutions on offer, including reading glasses, varifocals, multifocal contact lenses or a combination of both, depending on what you prefer.

"Your optician can recommend the best treatment for you, so we would recommend booking an eye test if you are experiencing any symptoms."