Driving & Your Vision | National Distracted Driving Month

Several things can impact your ability to drive safely, and vision is one of them. If you have vision issues, it can lead to problems on the road. April is National Distracted Driving Month, and it is a good reminder for us all to make driving safely a priority. In addition to paying attention when we get behind the wheel, it’s essential to make sure vision issues are not affecting our ability to drive safely. 

How Vision Changes Can Affect Driving 

Having good vision is an essential component of driving safely. You have to see signs, lights, and obstacles in order to react quickly. If you are straining to see what a sign says, the distraction can take your eyes off the road for too long.
 
Vision changes can develop at any age. Older drivers may be the most at risk for vision changes that might impact driving. Changes that may affect vision include the following:

• Depth perception: Depth perception allows you to judge how far away something is and see things three-dimensionally. A decrease in depth perception may lead to following cars too closely or trouble parking. Conditions that may alter depth perception include trauma to the eye, nerve damage, and strabismus (misaligned eyes).
• Changes to peripheral vision: Peripheral vision allows you to see to the side, even when you are looking straight ahead. Good peripheral vision is important for driving. Changes to your peripheral vision can affect your reaction time and increase blind spots. Various conditions can lead to decreased peripheral vision, with glaucoma being one of the most common.
• Visual acuity: Visual acuity involves the ability to see clearly. While you don’t have to have perfect vision to drive well, a decrease in visual acuity should be evaluated to determine if driving is affected. Many conditions can lead to a decrease in visual acuity, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).   
• Night vision: Night vision allows you to see in the dark. A decrease in night vision may make it more difficult for you to drive in the evening. The most common cause of decreased night vision is aging.
• Decreased ability to see things up close: Another age-related issue that may affect vision is a decreased ability to see things up close. The condition, called presbyopia, is common. It occurs as the lenses in the eyes lose their flexibility. Although it is impossible to prevent age-related presbyopia, wearing glasses is often helpful. 

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Recognizing Vision Changes That Affect Driving 

It’s important to see an eye doctor for regular eye exams, even if you do not notice any vision issues. An eye doctor can diagnose certain eye conditions before you even develop symptoms. Regular eye exams help preserve vision.
 
If you can’t remember when your last eye exam was, it’s probably time to get checked. It’s also vital to see an eye doctor if you notice any eye or vision changes. See an eye doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Floaters or blurry vision
• Decreased night vision
• Frequent headaches
• Eye strain for an extended amount of time
• Frequent squinting
• Dry eyes
• Eye pain 

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​Decreasing Eye Strain When Driving 

You don’t rely on any other sense more than your vision when you are driving. When you get behind the wheel, your eyes are focusing on objects, scanning the road, and dealing with glare from the sun or oncoming headlights. That’s a lot for your eyes to deal with.
 
If your eyes become too strained, it can decrease your safety – and the safety of others – when you’re behind the wheel. Taking certain precautions may help decrease eyestrain when driving. Consider these suggestions:

• Keep your mirrors, windows, and headlights clean, which may decrease glare and reduce eyestrain. It also improves your clarity.
• Follow your eye doctor’s recommendations for wearing glasses when driving.
• Adjust your seat as needed, usually about ten feet in front of your car, to help reduce glare from the headlights of oncoming cars.
• Try to avoid driving long distances when you are tried. If you are already tired, it might make you even more susceptible to eyestrain.
• Make sure you wear sunglasses to protect against UV rays. Sunglasses also help prevent you from squinting, which can make your eyes tired.
• Take frequent breaks to rest your eyes, particularly when driving long distances.

 
Many of us take driving for granted but losing your ability to drive safely can have a big impact on your independence. Take good care of your eye health by protecting your eyes against UV rays, exercising, and not smoking. Getting comprehensive eye exams also need to be a part of your eye health plan.
 
If you would like to schedule an appointment or an eye exam with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600. 
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