The happiest everyday sights are rainbows, a baby’s smile and a starry sky at night

A poll of 2,000 adults found 28 per cent crack a smile when they catch sight of a dog so excited it can’t stop wagging its tail. And 24 per cent love nothing more than seeing an older couple walking hand-in-hand - but a random act of kindness tops the list for 39 per cent.

A sleepy pet stretching instantly lifts the mood for 22 per cent, and the same amount have their hearts warmed by the sight of ducks waddling in a line. A fifth (18 per cent) added seeing strangers help each other out – like carrying shopping or picking up something dropped – is one of the most wholesome, feel-good things in everyday life.

But despite the joy these little moments bring, 22 per cent admit they take their sight for granted – one in five haven’t had a proper eye check-up in more than the recommended two years.

Peter Morton, from eye care supplement Ocuvite Complete, which commissioned the research, said: “Witnessing certain things can give us a lift, and make us feel great. We often talk about the benefits of mindfulness and being present for our mental health, and a simple way to do this can be to notice and appreciate what we see.

“A child’s drawing on the fridge, a sunset through the window, or even the pattern on a favourite mug - these are the sights that make us feel at home in the world. Protecting our vision ensures we can keep experiencing these moments with clarity and joy.”

Other everyday sights that make people happy included a toddler dancing to music without any inhibitions (18 per cent) or a perfectly brewed cuppa (17 per cent).

The study went on to find 24 per cent find the main barrier to noticing these small happy moments is always being in a rush. While 22 per cent blame feeling stressed or anxious, and 16 per cent by being distracted by their phone.

Possibly as a result, 12 per cent reported only seeing something wholesome that makes them smile when out and about less often than once a month. And 56 per cent think kids are more likely than adults to notice funny or silly sights happening in the world, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

Peter Morton from eye health vitamin firm Ocuvite Complete added: “Children have a natural gift for spotting the magic in everyday life - a bug on the pavement, a rainbow in a puddle, or the way light bounces off a cereal bowl. They remind us that joy is everywhere, if we take the time to look.

“But to keep seeing the world through curious eyes, we need to protect our vision - because those little moments are only as vivid as our sight allows.”

Top 40 everyday sights that make us smile:

1.    A random act of kindness

2.    A baby’s smile

3.    A clear night sky full of stars

4.    A dog excitedly wagging its tail

5.    Waves gently lapping at the shore

6.    A smile from a stranger

7.    A rainbow after rain

8.    An older couple walking hand-in-hand

9.    A toddler’s giggle fit

10.   Cherry blossoms in full bloom

11.   A sleepy pet stretching

12.   Ducks waddling in a line

13.   Sunlight flickering through trees

14.   A toddler dancing to music

15.   A dog hanging its head out a car window

16.   Someone helping an older person cross the street

17.   Seeing a stranger help another stranger out – like picking something up for them

18.   A butterfly landing nearby

19.   Someone laughing at your joke

20.   A perfectly brewed cup of tea

21.   A stranger holding the door open

22.   Children laughing in a playground

23.   A cat curled up in a sunbeam

24.   A child handing you a drawing

25.   A squirrel nibbling a nut

26.   Freshly baked bread in a shop window

27.   Someone giving up their seat on the bus

28.   A grandparent reading to a child

29.   Footprints in fresh snow

30.   A loved one waving at the airport

31.   An ice cream truck arriving on a hot day

32.   A clean, fluffy towel fresh from the dryer

33.   A bunch of wildflowers in a jar

34.   A delivery person smiling

35.   A handwritten letter in the post

36.   Twinkle lights in a window

37.   A spontaneous street musician performance

38.   A couple reuniting at a train station

39.   Neatly folded laundry

40.   A surprise note in a lunchbox