Quantifying age-related differences in visual-discrimination capacity: drivers with and without visual impairment.

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of aging as well as visual impairment on retinal-image quality and visual performance in drivers. We use a new visual test called Halo v1.0 software for quantifying the discrimination capacity, an important visual function for evaluating the visual disturbances perceived by the observer. The study included 55 subjects with normal vision and 15 older subjects with cataracts. All subjects were examined for visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual-discrimination capacity and optical quality. Subjects also completed a subjective Driving Habits Questionnaire (DHQ). Older drivers with and without visual impairment showed significantly (p < 0.05) worse visual performance and deteriorated retinal-image quality, even when their binocular visual acuity was ≥20/25. In conclusion, some visual functions are considerably diminished in older drivers, even when visual acuity is sufficient to get or renew a driver's license. Halo software enables easy quantification of night-vision disturbances such as halos, which could impede the detection of pedestrians, cyclists, or traffic signals, thereby making this system advisable in clinical practice, e.g. in the requirements for a driver's license, particularly for older drivers.

[1]  M. C. Leske,et al.  The Lens Opacities Classification System III , 1993 .

[2]  Aixa Alarcon,et al.  Optical quality and visual discrimination capacity after myopic LASIK with a standard and aspheric ablation profile. , 2011, Journal of refractive surgery.

[3]  CynthiaOwsley,et al.  Older Drivers and Cataract : Driving Habits and Crash Risk , 2022 .

[4]  Abhishek Payal,et al.  The global burden of cataract , 2011, Current opinion in ophthalmology.

[5]  K. Tuppurainen,et al.  Cataract in traffic , 1999, Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.

[6]  José Manuel González-Méijome,et al.  Night vision disturbances after successful LASIK surgery , 2007, British Journal of Ophthalmology.

[7]  A R Dobbs,et al.  A comparative approach to identify unsafe older drivers. , 1998, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[8]  Beth T. Stalvey,et al.  Driving avoidance and functional impairment in older drivers. , 1998, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[9]  M Mäntyjärvi,et al.  Visual functions of drivers involved in traffic accidents. , 1999, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[10]  P Artal,et al.  Effects of aging in retinal image quality. , 1993, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics and image science.

[11]  Hayk Minasyan,et al.  Cataract halos: a driving hazard in aging populations. Implication of the Halometer DG test for assessment of intraocular light scatter. , 2009, Applied ergonomics.

[12]  J. Wood,et al.  Comparison of Driving Performance of Young and Old Drivers (with and without Visual Impairment) Measured during In-Traffic Conditions , 2001, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[13]  Beth T. Stalvey,et al.  Visual risk factors for crash involvement in older drivers with cataract. , 2001, Archives of ophthalmology.

[14]  G McGwin,et al.  Visual risk factors for driving difficulty among older drivers. , 2000, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[15]  M. C. Leske,et al.  The Lens Opacities Classification System III. The Longitudinal Study of Cataract Study Group. , 1993, Archives of ophthalmology.

[16]  J. Wood How do visual status and age impact on driving performance as measured on a closed circuit driving track? , 1999, Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians.

[17]  Jaume Pujol,et al.  Optical Quality Analysis System; Instrument for objective clinical evaluation of ocular optical quality. , 2004, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[18]  M. Babizhayev Glare Disability and Driving Safety , 2003, Ophthalmic Research.

[19]  Arne Stinchcombe,et al.  Comparative optimism among drivers: an intergenerational portrait. , 2010, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[20]  M. Legge,et al.  Age related changes in drivers' crash risk and crash type. , 1998, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[21]  Carlos Salas,et al.  Impact of interocular differences in corneal asphericity on binocular summation. , 2003, American journal of ophthalmology.

[22]  Aixa Alarcon,et al.  New testing software for quantifying discrimination capacity in subjects with ocular pathologies. , 2011, Journal of biomedical optics.

[23]  Thomas J T P van den Berg,et al.  Prevalence of impairment of visual function in European drivers , 2011, Acta ophthalmologica.

[24]  Francisco Pérez-Ocón,et al.  Optical Image Quality and Visual Performance for Patients With Keratitis , 2009, Cornea.

[25]  Enrique Hita,et al.  Changes in corneal asphericity after laser in situ keratomileusis , 2003, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[26]  Jaume Pujol,et al.  Comparison of the retinal image quality with a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor and a double-pass instrument. , 2006, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[27]  Marlos Viana,et al.  SHORT NOTE Relative Effects of Age and Compromised Vision on Driving Performance , 1995, Hum. Factors.

[28]  R A Marottoli,et al.  Confidence in, and self-rating of, driving ability among older drivers. , 1998, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[29]  T. J. van den Berg,et al.  Cataract and Pseudophakia in Elderly European Drivers , 2010, European journal of ophthalmology.

[30]  Ramón Gutiérrez,et al.  Binocular visual performance after LASIK. , 2005, Journal of refractive surgery.

[31]  B K Pierscionek,et al.  Aging changes in the optical elements of the eye. , 1996, Journal of biomedical optics.

[32]  Simple device for quantifying the influence of halos after lasik surgery. , 2003, Journal of biomedical optics.

[33]  Takashi Fujikado,et al.  Light scattering and optical aberrations as objective parameters to predict visual deterioration in eyes with cataracts , 2004, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[34]  Thierry Pebayle,et al.  Deterioration of the useful visual field with ageing during simulated driving in traffic and its possible consequences for road safety , 2009 .

[35]  R. Klein,et al.  Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. , 2004, Archives of ophthalmology.

[36]  Enrique Hita,et al.  Correlation between image quality and visual performance , 2008 .

[37]  L Staplin,et al.  Retrospective evaluation of alternative vision screening criteria for older and younger drivers. , 1993, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[38]  F. Pérez-Ocón,et al.  Objective and subjective optical-quality measurements in subjects with keratitis and age-related macular degeneration , 2008 .