Vehicles are becoming safer, but road accidents and deaths continue.  Speeding, driving drunk, being distracted by cell phones and the way people see, all play a part with what happens when someone gets behind the wheel.  So many times, people simply say after an accident “I didn’t see the person” or “I don’t know where it came from.”   If you cannot see, you are not safe. Have an eye exam.

Worldwide, the statistics show that 23% of drivers have uncorrected vision problems

Visual Acuity & Visual Fields

The vision requirements are that you should be able to read the 20/40 line on the Snellen chart.

If you have cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macula degeneration or any other ocular disease that compromises your vision, you must have an annual exam to make sure your vision is within the legal requirements. 

• Cataracts make things seem blurred, hazy and reduce contrast sensitivity. The standard of sharp vision can drop according to changing light. 

• Glaucoma reduces the peripheral vision.  

• Diabetic can affect both the visual acuity and field of view

• Macula Degeneration takes away the central part of your vision

Pathology can affect your central and peripheral vision,

Blind Spot

Every eye has a natural “blind spot.”  This is the point where the optic nerve enters the retina. There are no light receptors here. The Visual Fields of the right eye cross over to that of the left so we never actually notice the missing area in our vision on a day to day basis. 

The time that this blind spot can be dangerous or fatal is while driving.  Always look over your shoulder when overtaking. 

Having one eye

Having vision in only one eye does not have to prevent driving, providing that the remaining vision is of the required level. However, it is your responsibility to disclose that information so that it can be noted on your driver’s permit and to your insurance company about the loss of an eye. It may take several months for you to adapt safely to driving with one eye.

Sammy Davis Junior (1925-1990) lost his left eye in a car accident at age 29.  It didn’t stop him from a career that spanned many decades of being a singer, musician, dancer, actor, comedian, and activist.