How Vision Problems Can Affect Elderly Drivers

Thanks to advances in modern medicine, the average person is living longer than ever before, which means there are more older drivers on the road. But if you are over 60, your eyesight probably is not as good as it once was. Age-related vision changes that commonly affect senior drivers include: decreased ability to clearly see road signs and/or objects up close, like the instrument panel or road maps; changes in color perception; difficulty judging distances and speed; slower reaction times; loss of peripheral vision; problems seeing in low light or nighttime conditions; and difficulty adjusting to glare from oncoming headlights or the sun.

While these changes don't mean you have to turn in your car keys and give up your freedom, there are some simple things you can do to stay as safe as possible on the road.

• Almost half of all collisions involving older drivers occur at intersections, and are commonly due to a failure to yield, especially when making a left turn. Peripheral vision decreases as we age, so turning your head and looking both ways before proceeding into an intersection will increase your vision range.


• Reduce your speed, particularly when driving at night. As we age, our pupils don't dilate as quickly in the dark, which means you may have more trouble seeing at night, or you will be temporarily blinded by the glare of oncoming headlights. Whenever possible, limit your driving to daylight hours, and avoid driving on unfamiliar roads.


• It's a good idea for seniors to take a driving course designed specifically for older drivers. These courses describe the physical changes that may affect driving ability as we age, and how to compensate for them. They are typically offered by the American Association of Retired Persons, driving schools, or adult education programs.


• Anyone over the age of 60 should have a regular eye exam at least every two years (more often if you have certain eye conditions or other health issues which may affect eyesight). Annual exams will ensure your prescription is up to date, as well as provide early detection of developing eye problems that could affect your driving.


• Avoid wearing glasses with wide frames or temples, which may restrict side vision. Ask your eye doctor about special eyeglasses, such as those with anti-reflective coatings, which can cut down on glare, or lenses developed with wavefront technology, which may reduce halos, starbursts, and glare.


• Finally, as a senior driver, it's important to know your limitations. Consider limiting your driving to shorter trips during daylight hours, and leave the late-night driving duties to someone else. Leave more distance between yourself and other drivers to compensate for the decrease in reaction time.

What are you doing to preserve your ability to drive through your golden years? If you had to stop driving because of poor vision or other reasons, how would you get around without a car?