SAFE DRIVING TIPS
Keep an eye on vision problems
Regular eye examinations help catch many health issues early

There has been a fair degree of media attention recently on the issue of older drivers. But one factor that does not receive the attention it deserves is that of eye or vision problems that come with advancing age.

And before you get too comfortable, we're talking about problems that can begin around the ripe old age of 50!

We've continually made the point that driving is a visual exercise, that proper use of your vision determines how well you drive and avoid incidents. A driver with a lower level of skill and/or poor reflexes can actually be a safer driver if he or she uses their vision properly. A young, physically gifted person can be a very dangerous driver if they are not aware of their surroundings and relies solely on reflexes to get out of trouble.

Therefore, we should all be aware of issues related to vision and the inordinate effect they will have on our ability to drive safely. In most cases we can adjust accordingly.

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens, that part of the eye responsible for focusing light and producing clear, sharp images. The lens is sealed within a capsule and as old cells die they have nowhere to go and stay trapped there. Over time they accumulate, causing the lens to cloud up, making images look blurred or fuzzy.

For most people, cataracts are a natural result of aging. Eye injuries, some medications and diseases such as diabetes and alcoholism are also known to cause cataracts. Some signs of cataracts are when it becomes more difficult to see in bright light, objects become blurry, headlight glare is more intense, colour appears faded and night vision decreases.

If you are diagnosed as having cataracts you may still be able to drive. Every person's cataract is different. Yours might be so small initially that it will have little effect on your vision, allowing you to drive for many years if no other problems arise. It will worsen, however, and cause more clouding with time. At some point your eye care expert will likely recommend cataract surgery, which can be highly successful in restoring visual clarity.

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and results in vision loss and blindness. The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibres that connect the retina (rear portion of the eye) to the brain. Because glaucoma usually affects your peripheral vision, unless you have regular checkups, you may not be aware of vision loss until it has reached an advanced stage. With glaucoma you may not see cars, bikes, people and other things outside your central field of view. You may still be able to drive with glaucoma, which can be treated to slow the disease's progression.

If your eye care specialist detects macular degeneration in the early stages, you may not have noticed any change in your vision. You might be able to drive until it progresses.

With many of these degenerative eye issues, you can initially adjust by planning a route that avoids factors that most affect vision. These include time of day issues when the sun is low on the horizon, when traffic is most intense or when it is raining at night. Obviously a clean windshield will go a long way to enhancing vision, as will clean headlights.

One common factor in all of this is the need to have regular eye examinations by a professional. Like decreased flexibility and slowed reflexes, vision will get worse with time and age. But as indicated previously, proper visual technique can make up for some of these other problems - but no amount of physical prowess can adjust for poor vision.

In some cases your eye doctor might refer you to a specialist who can accompany you in the car to determine the affect on your driving. You might also check with local hospitals and rehab centres to locate an occupational therapist that can help with skills assessment.

Halifax-based Richard Russell operates the Advanced Driving Concepts driving school.