Sensory impairment and driving: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the associations between vision, hearing, loss, and car accidents. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 3654 people aged 49 years and older in the Blue Mountains, Australia, was used. Each subject had a detailed eye examination and interview. RESULTS Self-reported car accident rates in the past year among 2379 current drivers were 5.6% for those aged 49 to 79 years and 9.1% for those 80 years and older. A 2-line difference in visual acuity was associated with increased risk of accidents (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.6), as was visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the right eye (PR = 2.0), overall moderate hearing loss (PR = 1.9), and hearing loss in the right ear (PR = 1.8). CONCLUSIONS Sensory loss in drivers may be an important risk factor for car accidents.

[1]  K. Ball,et al.  Visual attention problems as a predictor of vehicle crashes in older drivers. , 1993, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[2]  M. Tinetti,et al.  Self-report versus state records for identifying crashes among older drivers. , 1997, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences.

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

[4]  K L Linton,et al.  Assessment of cataracts from photographs in the Beaver Dam Eye Study. , 1990, Ophthalmology.

[5]  P. Davison.  INTER‐RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BRITISH DRIVERS‘ VISUAL ABILITIES, AGE AND ROAD ACCIDENT HISTORIES , 1985, Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians.

[6]  C. Johnson,et al.  Incidence of visual field loss in 20,000 eyes and its relationship to driving performance. , 1983, Archives of ophthalmology.

[7]  Deryck Humphries,et al.  THREE SOUTH AFRICAN STUDIES ON THE RELATION BETWEEN ROAD ACCIDENTS AND DRIVERS‘ VISION , 1987 .

[8]  J. Gresset,et al.  Risk of accidents among elderly car drivers with visual acuity equal to 6/12 or 6/15 and lack of binocular vision , 1994, Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians.

[9]  P. Mitchell,et al.  Prevalence of open-angle glaucoma in Australia. The Blue Mountains Eye Study. , 1996, Ophthalmology.

[10]  R. North.  THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXTENT OF VISUAL FIELD AND DRIVING PERFORMANCE—A REVIEW , 1985, Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians.

[11]  J. Wood,et al.  Effect of Visual Impairment on Driving , 1994, Human factors.

[12]  A J McKnight,et al.  The visual and driving performance of monocular and binocular heavy-duty truck drivers. , 1991, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[13]  K. Chia,et al.  Estimation of prevalence rate ratios for cross sectional data: an example in occupational epidemiology. , 1993, British journal of industrial medicine.

[14]  J. J. Wang,et al.  Prevalence of age-related maculopathy in Australia. The Blue Mountains Eye Study. , 1995, Ophthalmology.

[15]  L. McCloskey,et al.  Motor vehicle collision injuries and sensory impairments of older drivers. , 1994, Age and ageing.

[16]  J Lee,et al.  Odds ratio or relative risk for cross-sectional data? , 1994, International journal of epidemiology.

[17]  F. Meyer,et al.  Risk of automobile accidents among elderly drivers with impairments or chronic diseases. , 1994, Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique.

[18]  R B Wallace,et al.  Geriatric assessment and driver functioning. , 1993, Clinics in geriatric medicine.

[19]  J. Wood,et al.  Elderly Drivers and Simulated Visual Impairment , 1995, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[20]  Jimmy K. Lee.  Estimation of Prevalence Rate Ratios from Cross-Sectional Data: a reply , 1995 .

[21]  R. Cumming,et al.  Prevalence of cataract in Australia: the Blue Mountains eye study. , 1997, Ophthalmology.

[22]  P. Mitchell,et al.  Visual acuity and the causes of visual loss in Australia. The Blue Mountains Eye Study. , 1996, Ophthalmology.