20 Nov Driving with Poor Eyesight
One of the most important aspects of safe driving is… being able to see! Proper vision while driving is essential to driving safely, but many people may be unable to recognize that they have vision problems while driving, until it is too late. Many people overestimate their ability to see, especially when it comes to driving at night or in poor visibility. However, protecting yourself and your eyes while driving does not have to be a challenge, and in most cases, problems can be easily corrected. Accidents can be avoided by ensuring that your vision is not impaired while you are driving. Continue reading for tips on how to avoid driving with impaired vision.
Wearing Glasses
While many people wear glasses on a day-to-day basis, many glasses-wearers with minor vision corrections only don their eyewear in specific scenarios. While you may not believe your corrective lenes are always required, in many provinces (including Ontario) you may be legally required to wear your glasses when driving to meet vision standards.
Did you know that in Ontario, if you are wearing glasses in your driver’s license photo, you are legally required to wear them when driving? Further, it is listed on your license if you require corrective lenses, whether you wear glasses or contacts. In some cases, such as for those with under 6/15 vision, you may not be allowed to drive even while wearing prescription lenses. In order to avoid driving with impaired vision, and potentially even breaking the law, always wear your prescribed corrective lenses while driving.
Poor Distance Vision
If you suffer from Myopia, or short sightedness, you should always wear glasses while you drive. This condition means that you are unable to properly see into the distance, and the condition can vary from mild to severe. Even in mild cases, you may not realize how poorly you are seeing distant objects, and this can be especially dangerous when driving. You may be unable to properly read street signs, see a light change, or even an obstacle—such as a pedestrian, or accident—up ahead.
For many people myopia can develop with age, and it may be difficult to recognize—or for some, to admit—that distance glasses are required. Fortunately, addressing myopia is simple, and can be solved with an eye examination and corrective lenses. In order to ensure you are not developing myopia and unknowingly driving with impaired vision, be sure to engage in regular eye examinations… no matter your age.
Driving at Night
Driving at night can be dangerous, as darkness inherently means reduced visibility. Coupled with untreated eye conditions, it can be even more so. For those suffering from conditions such as Astigmatism, driving at night can be difficult. Astigmatism is an irregularity in the curvature of the eye that causes a blurring of near and distance vision and can cause squinting to clear vision.
Other conditions, such as Glaucoma may cause your peripheral vision to be reduced, thus preventing you from seeing dangerous obstacles, especially at night. While glaucoma cannot be cured, cylindrical or toric lenses can be used to correct this deficiency, allowing proper vision.
No matter what type of lenses you are wearing, night driving can be difficult due to reflections of light on your windshield, and your glasses. Fortunately, non-glare lenses or anti-reflective coatings can help you avoid glare and reflections when driving at night. Plus, non-glare lenses offer higher scratch resistance compared to standard lenses.
Basic Precautions
Even if you do not suffer from an eye condition, there are some basic precautions that you can take to ensure that your vision is optimal when driving. Cleaning your windshield and headlights, properly defogging your windows, and turning off your in-car lighting at night can all help increase your visibility. Further, reducing your speed and removing in-car distractions such as your phone can help keep you safe while driving.
No matter what symptoms you face when driving, the experts at Dr D’Orio Eyecare can help you find a solution for all your daily vision needs! To book an appointment today, visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment/ or call us at 416 656 2020 for our Toronto location, or 416 661 5555 for our North York location.
