We go for dental check-ups every six months and we have regular health checks as a matter of course.

But do we give our eyes the same kind of attention?

The answer, says optician Victoria Gore, is no. Eye tests are one of those things we never seem to get around to, but leaving your eyes unchecked can lead to a range of health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

Victoria, who runs Victoria Gore Optometrist in Queensbury, recommends eye tests every two years.

"That's unless you have diabetes or glaucoma, in which case you should have a test every year," she says. "People over 70 or under 16 can come every year.

"Many people don't think about getting their eyes tested unless they already wear glasses or develop an eyesight problem.

"Some leave it ten or 15 years without an eye test, but our eyes change over the years. People over 40 or 45 may find they need glasses for reading, even if their eyesight has been fine until then."

Victoria says parents should take their children for regular eye checks. "When you're a child your eyes are still growing and change quickly," she says. "Sometimes eye problems among children are picked up in school but unless they have specific problems many children's eyesight remains unchecked. Eye tests are free for under 16-year-olds."

Victoria, 29, can detect various conditions from checking eyes. "I can tell whether you have high blood pressure or cholesterol or diabetes," she says.

"Having an eye test is a straightforward procedure but some people get worked up about it. I put people at ease, I work out their prescription from a series of eye tests, and test for glaucoma by checking eye pressure and peripheral or field vision.

"Sometimes people come along who've never worn glasses and have got used to having poor eyesight. It's quite worrying, especially if they've been driving for years not being able to see clearly."

The prospect of wearing glasses may keep many people away from the opticians but Victoria says that, despite the advancement of contact lenses, glasses have become more fashionable.

With stars like Mel B, Chris Evans and Jude Law often snapped sporting designer specs, there's no longer a stigma attached to wearing them.

"There's a huge range of glasses around now, it's trendy to wear them," says Victoria. "Sometimes young girls are upset when I tell them they don't need glasses! For older people, wearing glasses for the first time is an admission that they're getting older, which can take some getting used to, but once they've found frames to suit them most people are okay with it."

Victoria has always worn glasses and her interest in optometry stemmed from childhood.

"I was a regular visitor to the opticians and was fascinated by all the equipment they used," she says.

She studied A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry at St Joseph's College, Manningham, and gained a first-class honours BSc degree in optometry at Bradford University.

"I was the only girl in my year at school who chose optometry for university, I felt drawn to it," she says.

  • For more information about eye tests ring (01274) 815861 or visit www.victoriagore.co.uk.