Manchester tops UK league for sight below legal standard to drive

Analysis of over 200,000[1] UK cataract patients indicates North West is poor sight hotspot this National Eye Health Week
Manchester has topped a league assessing the places in the UK where sight falls short of the legal standard to drive – with most of the top 10 areas for poor vision located within North West England.
The research – conducted by UK leading independent NHS ophthalmology provider SpaMedica – analysed the anonymous sight test data of over 200,000 residents nationwide across the past 18 months who had been diagnosed with cataracts.
Worryingly, the study found that by the time Manchester residents seek treatment for the condition, 22% have sight so poor they should no longer drive. It compares to a national average of 14.5%.
In fact, seven of the top 10 areas where patients’ vision was similarly severely impaired are in the North West (see table below).

Cataracts is a common condition, with an estimated one third of over 65s– some 3.3 million Brits – experiencing gradual clouding of the natural lens of the eye.

Many people with cataracts continue to drive, with a poll by SpaMedica[2] revealing that almost half of patients (43%) complain that cataracts cause them to struggle behind the wheel.
Dr Alex Silvester, Chief Medical Officer at SpaMedica explains: “This research, interrogating sight test results of cataract patients at our 60-plus hospitals nationwide, raises concerns that a substantial proportion of Brits don’t seek treatment for cataracts until their vision has deteriorated significantly, to below the legal requirements for safe driving.

“Drilling down regionally, we found that people living in the North West – specifically Manchester, Liverpool, Oldham and Rochdale – appear to be either waiting longer to get the treatment they need, or having difficulty accessing it.”

Sight was assessed as particularly poor in Middlesborough in the North East too, where at least 1 in 5 failed to meet the minimum benchmark for driving. Hull and Stoke-on-Trent were the other two areas named in the top 10.

With the Government reportedly publishing the first road safety strategy in a decade this Autumn, which is rumoured to mandate eye tests for over 70s, the impact on residents in the North West could be significant.

According to GOV.UK. guidelines, current legal standard for drivers is to read a number plate from 20 metres away and have visual acuity of 6/12 or better using both eyes together. SpaMedica’s research analysed patients, by area, who had visual acuity below 6/12 in both eyes at their pre-cataract surgery assessment.

“Overall we found that those living in local authority areas defined as ‘most deprived’ had the poorest vision” added Dr Silvester. “It suggests more needs to be done to encourage the public in these places to prioritise their eye health, and highlights the critical need for timely intervention to prevent potential risks to road safety.

“The good news is cataract surgery is a highly effective and successful procedure, with 98% of our patients regaining vision to a standard that they can drive following treatment, which means safer roads for all.”

Cataracts symptoms

Symptoms of cataracts include:
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty driving at night
• Difficulty watching television and reading
• Being dazzled by sunlight and/or bright lights such as the headlights of an oncoming car
• Fading of colours
• Frequent changes to spectacle or contact lens prescriptions

People who notice any changes to their vision should book an appointment with their optician, who will perform a thorough eye check and refer them for treatment if needed. In England, patients can choose which NHS provider they have cataract surgery with.

[1] SpaMedica patient data spanning January 2024-to end of June 2025

[2] SpaMedica patient feedback survey 2024