Londoners more likely to appear tense, angry and unapproachable – but it could be a common eye condition

For decades, London has been repeatedly crowned as the most unfriendly city in the UK 1, as tourists and out-of-towners are often shocked by the alleged lack of small talk and hospitality. According to a new study, nearly one in three (29%) reportedly fear to ask for directions to avoid receiving rude or disparaging looks from Londoners.

However, the new data offers fresh context on the dirty looks or ’resting squint face’ some might spot on the tube during their daily commute. Specsavers* revealed that seven out of 10 (71%) Londoners admit to squinting when looking at a screen – which is 20% higher than the national average (51%). A fifth (20%) of residents also believe that even their colleagues perceive them as unapproachable when they squint at work.
Regular or frequent squinting can be one of the early indicators of a common age-related change in near vision, which many people begin to notice from their mid-40s, called presbyopia. 

Over half (a whopping 55%) of Londoners have been mistaken for rude or standoffish when they were innocently squinting to read something. Londoners ranked highest in the country for this common misinterpretation, closely followed by the Northern Irish (38%) and Northwestern residents (29%), including Mancunians and Liverpudlians.

Despite this, Londoners are a bashful bunch, as 52% admittedly experience embarrassing moments from not being able to see clearly, at least once a month. The nation’s most common mishaps included waving at the wrong person (13%), sending error-filled emails (9%), and tripping or bumping into objects (8%). Almost a third of the capital (30%) worry that their accidental squinting makes them appear angrier or more tense (20%).

To raise awareness, Specsavers has released a witty public service announcement (PSA) film that brings Resting Squint Face to life and shows the everyday and relatable mishaps caused by squinting [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4kDuyM6Ppo].

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Each scenario highlights how easily these moments could be avoided and why it’s time for a “squintervention”: an intervention for squinters, encouraging people to book an eye test and address any changes in their vision, potentially caused by presbyopia. 

Despite its prevalence, globally affecting 1.8 billion people2, awareness of the condition remains low, with just 27% of Brits saying they’ve heard of the condition, in London the figure bobs up to 36%. This is compared to those who’ve heard of conditions like cataracts (77%) and glaucoma (75%). Therefore, it’s possible that almost two thirds of Londoners could be living with the condition without realising it. 

Dr Josie Forte, Optometrist at Specsavers, explains: “Most of us will develop presbyopia as we get older, and early signs are easy to spot – frequently squinting at your phone or laptop, holding a book at arm’s length, or increasing font size. 

 “Squinting isn’t about natural eye shape; it’s tightening the muscles around your eyes to focus and if you’re doing this regularly, it can be a sign of presbyopia. 

 “The good news is a simple eye check can quickly identify presbyopia, and a Specsavers optician can recommend the right treatment – whether that’s reading glasses, varifocals or contact lenses – to help you see clearly again.  

 “What’s more, workers who are using screens are legally entitled to a free eye test funded by their employer, and if glasses are needed for work, the employer must cover the cost.” 

We’re a nation glued to our gadgets – spending over four hours a day on personal screen time3, with 40% of workers staring non-stop at screens for more than two hours4. But all this digital devotion is taking its toll – not just on our eyes, but on how we’re seen. 

So, next time you think someone’s giving you a funny look on the tube, it might not be attitude – they could just be overdue an eye test.

Think you, a loved one or even a colleague might have Resting Squint Face? 
Check out the ‘Squint Scale’ to see where you are and book an eye test at your local Specsavers store or visit specsavers.co.uk to find out more about presbyopia and how easily it can be corrected.