A confident driver feels safe behind the wheel. You’ve done the training, passed the test, and you’ve got experience. The world is full of people who drive and are happy doing so – and you’re one of them.
Why should that ever change? Lots of reasons but one of the most common is deteriorating eyesight. You don’t have to be old to suffer from that.
Eyes are prone to many conditions that make them less effective – and deterioration can be gradual, so you don’t really notice anything until one day you realise your sight is not like it used to be. Good enough to go about your life as normal, perhaps, but worrying when you’re driving. As when you’re driving, you need to be at the top of your game.
What Specific Eye Issues can Affect Driving Ability?
It’s not just the obvious candidates, being long- or short-sighted. Short-sightedness means you can see things near you but not those further away, so number plates and road signs may no longer be sharp.
Long-sightedness means you’re okay with distance, but not so good up close, so maybe you can see the signs and the number of the car in front, but when you glance at the dashboard you can’t instantly take in the important information there.
But there are other conditions which may impact your driving ability.
- Macular Degeneration: A disease that attacks part of the retina causing blurred vision.
- Blepharospasm: A kind of involuntary blinking.
- Diplopia: Double vision with several potential causes.
- Glaucoma: Increased pressure in the eye.
- Nyctalopia: Its common name is night blindness.
Anyone can suffer from a condition that makes it inadvisable to drive, but at what point do you get it checked out? One thing is for sure: you don’t want to leave it until it’s too late. Having our eyes checked regularly is the way to spot things early and prevent or delay progression of conditions.
You might just need glasses or contact lenses. You might have to have some kind of surgery. Maybe eyedrops are all you need. You just don’t know until you get checked by an optometrist.
As a motorist you are familiar with the idea of getting an expert to check for potential issues as a matter of course. It’s called servicing and maintenance, and we do it to prevent trouble rather than waiting for it so it should apply to your eyes as much as your car.
How Often Should I get my Eyes Checked for Driving?
It’s not just for driving (although it is illegal to drive when you know your eyes are not up to it). Driving is one of those activities where your sight needs to be in good order. A common figure for an eye test is every two years. But if you feel uneasy about something when you’re driving, it makes sense to get your eyes checked out as soon as possible. Visit Microprism Vision today.