Measures of Visual Function and Time to Driving Cessation in Older Adults

There are many decisions for an older adult with vision loss to make about which activities can be safely done and which cannot. One of the hardest decisions to be made is when to stop driving, as this decision can have life-changing implications. This article reports on a study of the types of visual function loss that lead to self-cessation of driving. Data were used from the Salisbury Eye Evaluation project, a cohort study of 2,520 older adults followed for 8 years. Data was gathered on visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, and glare sensitivity. Those participants with worse baseline scores in these four areas were more likely to stop driving. Also, those who experienced 2-year losses in acuity, contrast sensitivity, or lower peripheral visual fields were more likely to stop driving. The factors of gender, other drivers in the household, or cognitive impairment were not found to be significant to the driving-cessation decision.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10405488
• Authors:
  • Freeman, Ellen E
  • Munoz, Beatriz
  • Turano, Kathleen A
  • West, Sheila K
• Publication Date: 2005-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 765-773
• Serial:
  • Optometry and Vision Science
  • Volume: 82
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: American Academy of Optometry
  • ISSN: 1040-5488
  • EISSN: 1538-9235
  • Serial URL: http://journals.lww.com/optvissci/pages/default.aspx

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Automobile driving; Decision making; Driving cessation; Field of vision; Impaired drivers; Motor skills; Night vision; Vision disorders; Visually impaired persons
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01025223
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 2006 9:30AM