The ability to drive represents a sense of freedom for adults of all ages. But, as we get older, changes to the body and mind can make driving increasingly difficult — and chief among these changes is often the vision loss that naturally occurs with age.
Good vision is crucial for safe driving. Nine of every 10 decisions you make behind the wheel are based on what you see. Seniors who want to continue to drive need to be aware of the vision loss and eye diseases that accompany aging — and prepare themselves to address these issues as they arise.
Problems That Affect Driving as You Age
Once most people pass 40, they begin to experience natural deterioration of their vision, and vision problems that come with aging can directly affect the ability to drive:
- The eye's lenses lose flexibility, making it harder to focus the eyes. If someone has trouble focusing on close objects, the resulting blurry vision can make it hard to read the speedometer. It also can be hard to change focus quickly — for example, glancing at the speedometer and then refocusing on the road. It also might be difficult to read street signs.
- The eyes become more sensitive to glare. This can make night driving difficult, as the headlights of oncoming cars can prove blinding to older drivers. Driving in bright sunlight may also be difficult.
- Peripheral vision begins to diminish. Aging eyes are less likely to see potential hazards at the edge of the field of vision — like a car that is about to sideswipe yours.
- More light is needed to see clearly. This need arises for a variety of reasons. It may be that your pupils begin to react more slowly or that your retinas become less sensitive to light. If you have cataracts, a common but serious eye condition that affects many seniors, the light entering your eyes is dimmed and blurred. This makes it harder for you to see at night and to recognize important objects like street signs, pavement markings, curbs, medians, and even pedestrians and other vehicles.
What You Can Do to Be Safe Behind the Wheel
If you’re experiencing vision problems, you don’t automatically need to give up your keys — take these steps to stay behind the wheel:
- Have regular eye exams. You should have your eyes checked annually after 60 years of age, to detect vision problems and eye diseases.
- Wear eyeglasses while driving. Aging eyes often need correction, even if you've never worn glasses before. Beat blurry vision with prescription eyeglasses or, if you need less correction, inexpensive reading eyeglasses. Always use a current prescription, and avoid eyeglasses with bulky frames that restrict your peripheral vision.
- Don't drive at night, or at dusk or dawn. This is especially important if you are sensitive to glare or need more light to be able to see clearly.
- Keep your windshield and mirrors clean. You should also clean your headlights often.
- Fight glare with minor adjustments. Set your seat height so you're able to see at least 10 feet of road in front of your vehicle. It doesn't sound like much, but this adjustment can really reduce the glare from oncoming headlights. You also should get into the habit of glancing to the lower right of the road ahead when driving past oncoming traffic. Do not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses to fight nighttime glare.
- Check your blind spots often. Turn your head frequently to adjust for any peripheral vision you've lost. Also, you can adjust your side mirrors to get rid of blind spots.
Knowing how age affects vision and taking the necessary precautions can keep you safe behind the wheel.
Last Updated: 6/6/2013