EXPERTS warn the impact of the pandemic is a 'ticking timebomb' on eye health after new data reveals almost 19,000 people in Dorset are living with sight loss.

Ahead of National Eye Health Week (September 20-26) Specsavers commissioned research, carried out by OnePoll, reveals 18,500 people in Dorset are living with sight loss.

It has also been revealed 5,820 people in the county have glaucoma, 30,210 have age-related macular degeneration, while 7,790 have diabetic retinopathy.

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And some people have been avoiding their eye tests for fear of being told their eyesight had worsened or being frightened about being told they had a more serious condition, it is feared.

Specsavers spokesman for Dorset, Andreas Booth, said: "The pandemic meant that eye care services in the UK were withdrawn, reduced or restricted.

"This has led to a reduction in referrals and the treatment of serious, and sometimes symptomless, eye conditions that can lead to irreversible and permanent sight loss if not detected and managed in time. The eye health sector, and the NHS, has a ticking timebomb on its hands."

Across the south west, 37 per cent of people have delayed having an eye test altogether. The data revealed reasons for choosing to delay included fear their eyesight had worsened (10 per cent) and being frightened about being told they had a more serious condition (4 per cent). However, 47 per cent said they would be annoyed at themselves for ignoring the symptoms of an irreversible health condition.