OBJECTIVE: To determine if central visual loss is associated with driving cessation, driving restriction, or other-driver preference. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four subjects with bilateral visual loss (<20/32 in better eye) or severe unilateral visual loss (<20/200) from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 58 normally sighted controls between 60 and 80 years of age. METHODS: Participants self-reported driving habits. Other-driver preference was defined as preferring that another drive when there is more than 1 driver in the car. Subjects reporting 2 or more driving limitations were considered to have restricted their driving. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported driving cessation, other-driver preference, and driving restriction. RESULTS: Age-related macular degeneration subjects were older (74.7 vs. 69.7 years), had worse visual acuity (VA; mean better-eye VA, 0.43 vs. 0.08 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]) and contrast sensitivity (CS; 1.4 vs. 1.9 log units of CS [logCS]), and were more likely to be white when compared with controls (P<0.001 for all). Drivers with AMD-related vision loss were more likely to avoid driving over longer distances, beyond 1 hour, at night, and in unfamiliar conditions (P < 0.05 for all). In multivariate models, driving cessation was associated with worse better-eye VA (odds ratio [OR], 1.5 per 1-line decrement in VA; P<0.001) and worse binocular CS (OR, 1.36 per 0.1 logCS increment; P = 0.005); however, AMD group status was not associated with driving cessation (OR, 1.9; P = 0.35). Factors predicting driving restriction were AMD (OR, 9.0; P = 0.004), worse vision (OR, 2.5 per line of VA loss; P<0.001), lower CS (OR, 2.2 per 0.1-logCS increment; P<0.001), and female gender (OR, 27.9; P = 0.002). Other-driver preference was more common with worse vision (OR, 1.6 per 0.1-logMAR increment; P = 0.003), female gender (OR, 4.5; P = 0.02), and being married (OR, 3.8; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with AMD-related central vision loss continue to drive, but demonstrate significant driving restrictions, especially with more severe VA and CS loss. Future work should determine which driving adaptations the visually impaired best balance safety and independence.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if central visual loss is associated with driving cessation, driving restriction, or other-driver preference. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four subjects with bilateral visual loss (<20/32 in better eye) or severe unilateral visual loss (<20/200) from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 58 normally sighted controls between 60 and 80 years of age. METHODS:Participants self-reported driving habits. Other-driver preference was defined as preferring that another drive when there is more than 1 driver in the car. Subjects reporting 2 or more driving limitations were considered to have restricted their driving. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported driving cessation, other-driver preference, and driving restriction. RESULTS: Age-related macular degeneration subjects were older (74.7 vs. 69.7 years), had worse visual acuity (VA; mean better-eye VA, 0.43 vs. 0.08 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]) and contrast sensitivity (CS; 1.4 vs. 1.9 log units of CS [logCS]), and were more likely to be white when compared with controls (P<0.001 for all). Drivers with AMD-related vision loss were more likely to avoid driving over longer distances, beyond 1 hour, at night, and in unfamiliar conditions (P < 0.05 for all). In multivariate models, driving cessation was associated with worse better-eye VA (odds ratio [OR], 1.5 per 1-line decrement in VA; P<0.001) and worse binocular CS (OR, 1.36 per 0.1 logCS increment; P = 0.005); however, AMD group status was not associated with driving cessation (OR, 1.9; P = 0.35). Factors predicting driving restriction were AMD (OR, 9.0; P = 0.004), worse vision (OR, 2.5 per line of VA loss; P<0.001), lower CS (OR, 2.2 per 0.1-logCS increment; P<0.001), and female gender (OR, 27.9; P = 0.002). Other-driver preference was more common with worse vision (OR, 1.6 per 0.1-logMAR increment; P = 0.003), female gender (OR, 4.5; P = 0.02), and being married (OR, 3.8; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with AMD-related central vision loss continue to drive, but demonstrate significant driving restrictions, especially with more severe VA and CS loss. Future work should determine which driving adaptations the visually impaired best balance safety and independence.
Authors: Oliver Findl; Wolf Buehl; Rupert Menapace; Michael Georgopoulos; Georg Rainer; Hannes Siegl; Alexandra Kaider; Axel Pinz Journal: J Cataract Refract Surg Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 3.351
Authors: Jerri D Edwards; Martinique Perkins; Lesley A Ross; Sandra L Reynolds Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2009-01-30 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Kathleen A Turano; Beatriz Munoz; Shirin E Hassan; Donald D Duncan; Emily W Gower; Karen B Roche; Lisa Keay; Cynthia A Munro; Sheila K West Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2009-04-09 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Jian-Yu E; Jennifer A Schrack; Aleksandra Mihailovic; Amal A Wanigatunga; Sheila K West; David S Friedman; Laura N Gitlin; Tianjing Li; Pradeep Y Ramulu Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2020-06-29 Impact factor: 12.079
Authors: Jian-Yu E; Aleksandra Mihailovic; Jennifer A Schrack; Tianjing Li; David S Friedman; Sheila K West; Laura N Gitlin; Pradeep Y Ramulu Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2021-01-08 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Jian-Yu E; Aleksandra Mihailovic; Catalina Garzon; Jennifer A Schrack; Tianjing Li; Sheila K West; David S Friedman; Laura N Gitlin; Pradeep Y Ramulu Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Date: 2021-05-13 Impact factor: 5.488
Authors: Sabyasachi Sengupta; Angeline M Nguyen; Suzanne W van Landingham; Sharon D Solomon; Diana V Do; Luigi Ferrucci; David S Friedman; Pradeep Y Ramulu Journal: BMC Ophthalmol Date: 2015-01-30 Impact factor: 2.209