Last year, the Mail's Save Our Sight campaign showed how restrictions set by health trusts denied the operations to many until they were near-blind.An investigation found three-quarters of hospitals would operate only on those who had performed badly in sight tests.

NHS trusts were also told to abandon the sight tests which mean many are refused surgery until they are nearly blind.

Campaigners blamed the increasing waiting times blamed on a lack of specialist eye surgeons, operating theatres and the pressures of an ageing population.