Citation

Freeman EE, Munoz B, Turano KA, West SK. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2006; 47(2): 514-520.

Affiliation

Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology)

DOI

10.1167/iovs.05-0934

PMID

16431944

Abstract

PURPOSE: Older drivers may place restrictions on their driving by reducing their mileage and avoiding high-risk driving situations in an effort to improve safety. This project identifies what types of visual function loss are associated with subsequent driving modifications. METHODS: Data were used from the baseline and 2-year follow-up rounds of the Salisbury Eye Evaluation project, a cohort study of 2520 older adults. Measures of visual function tested were visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, and glare sensitivity. Driving information was self-reported. Among drivers at baseline who continued to drive at follow-up, multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of incident driving modification by visual function status. RESULTS: Worse baseline scores in acuity, contrast sensitivity, and central and lower peripheral visual fields were individually associated with an increased odds of reduced mileage 2 years later (linear trend P < 0.05). Worse baseline scores in contrast sensitivity and central and lower peripheral visual fields were individually associated with a greater odds of cessation of night driving 2 years later, whereas worse baseline acuity scores were associated with an increased odds of cessation of driving in an unfamiliar areas 2 years later (linear trend P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Older drivers with worse visual function were more likely to modify their driving by reducing mileage and avoiding high-risk driving situations. Furthermore, these modifications to driving differed depending on what type of visual function was affected.

Language: en