A poll commissioned by Dollond & Aitchison shows six out of 10 elderly people in the age group intend to postpone examinations.

There are warnings of health risks from delaying eye tests

Chancellor Gordon Brown has promised tests for the over-60s will be free from next April.

But Dollond and Aitchison says its 400 branches are averaging 1,000 fewer eye tests a week than before his announcement last month.

This means as many as a quarter of a million over-60s across the country may be postponing tests.

The company has now decided to offer free examinations to the age group.

Eye-related disease affects almost a third of people over 60 and two-thirds of people over 70.

Consumer Affairs Correspondent Nicola Carslaw reports

The Federation of Opticians says the risk from delaying tests is particularly significant for pensioners, who are up to five times more likely as younger people to have undetected eye disease.

The Department of Health welcomed Dollond and Aitchison's announcement.

But it disputed claims that a few months' delay would pose a health risk.

Delay concerns

Dollond and Aitchison's offer applies to over-60s who are due a test or have not had their eyes tested for two years or more.

Managing Director Russell Hardy said the company had written to Health Secretary Frank Dobson about concerns over the delay in introducing free tests.

"It is clearly causing the over-60s to delay having their eyes tested,'' he added.

''This age group is the most vulnerable to glaucoma, cataract and other diseases many of which have few symptoms until it is too late - but if detected early are treatable.

"That is why it is important to get regular eye tests from qualified opticians. We do not want cost to be a barrier to good health care."