Cynthia Owsley1, Gerald McGwin, Karen Searcey. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0009, USA. owsley@uab.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Safe driving performance depends on visual skills yet little is known about the prevalence of vision impairments in older drivers and the eye conditions that cause them. This study is a population-based examination of the prevalence of vision impairment and major ophthalmological conditions among drivers aged 70 and older. METHODS: The source population was a random sample of 2,000 licensed drivers aged 70 and older residing in north central Alabama. All had driven within the past 3 months. Binocular visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were assessed. The Useful Field of View subtest 2 and Trails B assessed visual processing speed. Ophthalmological diagnoses for cataract, intraocular lens placement, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy were obtained through medical records from the most recent eye examination. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of drivers had visual acuity of 20/40 or better; only two drivers (0.1%) had acuity worse than 20/100. Ninety-three percent had normal contrast sensitivity (≥1.5). About 40% had slowed visual processing speed (44%, Useful Field of View; 38%, Trails B). The most common eye condition was cataract, with more than half having cataract in one or both eyes (56%); yet by the 80s and 90s, the prevalence was low, with most drivers having undergone cataract surgery and intraocular lens placement. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study suggests that serious impairment in central vision-visual acuity or contrast sensitivity-is rather uncommon in older drivers; however, slowed visual processing speed is common.
BACKGROUND: Safe driving performance depends on visual skills yet little is known about the prevalence of vision impairments in older drivers and the eye conditions that cause them. This study is a population-based examination of the prevalence of vision impairment and major ophthalmological conditions among drivers aged 70 and older. METHODS: The source population was a random sample of 2,000 licensed drivers aged 70 and older residing in north central Alabama. All had driven within the past 3 months. Binocular visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were assessed. The Useful Field of View subtest 2 and Trails B assessed visual processing speed. Ophthalmological diagnoses for cataract, intraocular lens placement, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy were obtained through medical records from the most recent eye examination. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of drivers had visual acuity of 20/40 or better; only two drivers (0.1%) had acuity worse than 20/100. Ninety-three percent had normal contrast sensitivity (≥1.5). About 40% had slowed visual processing speed (44%, Useful Field of View; 38%, Trails B). The most common eye condition was cataract, with more than half having cataract in one or both eyes (56%); yet by the 80s and 90s, the prevalence was low, with most drivers having undergone cataract surgery and intraocular lens placement. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study suggests that serious impairment in central vision-visual acuity or contrast sensitivity-is rather uncommon in older drivers; however, slowed visual processing speed is common.
Authors: S K West; B Munoz; G S Rubin; O D Schein; K Bandeen-Roche; S Zeger; S German; L P Fried Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 1997-01 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Nathan Congdon; Johannes R Vingerling; Barbara E K Klein; Sheila West; David S Friedman; John Kempen; Benita O'Colmain; Suh-Yuh Wu; Hugh R Taylor Journal: Arch Ophthalmol Date: 2004-04
Authors: John H Kempen; Benita J O'Colmain; M Cristina Leske; Steven M Haffner; Ronald Klein; Scot E Moss; Hugh R Taylor; Richard F Hamman Journal: Arch Ophthalmol Date: 2004-04