Driving and vision

Driving and vision

The importance of

good vision for

driving can not be

overemphasised

Visual standards for a regular Australian driver’s license

• You must be able to see AT LEAST the “6/12” line on the eye chart

• Your horizontal visual field must be more than 120 degrees

• These tests are binocular

Other visual reasons for not driving• Double vision when looking straight ahead

• Loss of vision in one eye

– should not drive for three months after

loss

• Eye infections

• Poor night vision

Visual standards – commercial vehicle license

Visual standards

for a commercial

vehicle license are

more rigorous than

those required for

a regular license

Reasons for decreased vision

• Refractive error - short-sightedness,

long-sightedness or astigmatism

• Ocular disease - cataract, glaucoma

or age-related macular degeneration

• Injury to the eye

Diagram of an eye

Normal focus

Short sightedness (Myopia)

Distance vision blurry, near vision usually ok

Short sighted focus Short sighted correction

Long sightedness (Hyperopia)

Difficulty seeing clearly and comfortably up close

Long sighted focus Long sighted correction

Astigmatism

• The eye is shaped more like a football

than a basketball

• Focusing error that causes blur in one

direction

Correcting refractive error• A tint may be useful

• Especially important at

night or in wet

conditions

• Some people who pass

the test still feel more

comfortable with glasses

Cataract

• Cloudiness in lens of eye

• Usually gradual loss of vision

• Common after 60

• May require surgery

Normal retina

optic nervemacula

retinal blood vessels

Age-related macular degeneration

• Deterioration of central retina

• Loss of central vision

• Distorted vision, patches missing

• Some treatment available

Diabetic retinopathy

• Changes to retinal blood vessels

• More likely when– Person has been diabetic for a

long time

– Blood sugar is not controlled well

• Some treatment is available

• Regular review is necessary

Glaucoma• Disease of optic

nerve• Loss of peripheral

vision• Prevalence

increases with age and family history

• Treatment best in early stages

Colour vision defect• Most commonly

red/green• 8% of males,

0.5 % of females

• Varies in severity• Can affect brightness

of traffic lights and brake lights

Colour vision defect

Having a colour vision defect is not a

restriction to getting a normal license,

however it may prevent you from

obtaining a license for a commercial

motor vehicle

Regular eye examinations

• Talk to your optometrist about how often

your eyes should be tested

Optometrists

• Provide a comprehensive visual

examination

• Detect and diagnose eye health problems

• Prescribe and supply glasses and contact

lenses when required

• Diagnose and treat eye coordination and

focussing problems

Optometrists

• Are university educated and undertake

continuing professional education

• No referral is required

• Eye tests attract a medicare rebate

To find an optometrist

• Optometrists Association Australia

www.optometrists.asn.au

• Yellow Pages