1 in 5 Drivers Can ’ t See Well Enough to Drive Safely
Courtesy Key-Whitman Eye Center
You may believe driving without your contact lenses or glasses is not a big issue , but let us assure you , it is .
As Key-Whitman Eye Center ’ s President and Chief Surgeon Jeffrey Whitman , M . D . explains , “ Recent research on car accidents shows people who drive without vision correction are four times more likely to get into an accident . Even more concerning is that at least 20 percent of drivers admit to always driving without their correction .”
You could be putting other lives in peril on the road and not know it . There are a vast amount of people who don ’ t know just how bad their vision really is or how their vision could impact others .
According to Dr . Whitman , “ It ’ s well known that people who suffer from cataracts lose their vision over time . It ’ s a progressive change , so many people don ’ t notice it . But it ’ s one of the easiest vision problems to correct , especially with the safe laser technology we use for cataract surgery today .”
Vision loss affects people of all ages – and their capacity to drive safely . While you may speculate this experience is isolated to elderly drivers with cataracts , more and more individuals in their 40s and 50s are getting cataracts now . Also , poor vision and people driving with uncorrected vision – that 20 percent – occurs with drivers of all ages .
“ Young drivers are at risk because they are more likely not to wear their prescription glasses or contacts . Maybe they don ’ t think they need
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glasses during the day , but then at night their vision gets worse . If they left their vision correction at home , that could be a dangerous drive home ,” Dr . Whitman says . Glaucoma is another blinding eye disease which can greatly hinder your capability to drive safely . If left untreated , individuals begin to have permanent peripheral vision loss . Says Dr . Whitman , “ Just think about it . When we drive , we need our peripheral vision . We need to see what ’ s going on to the right and left , not just straight ahead . Glaucoma is a very preventable disease , especially when diagnosed early and if the patient follows his or her treatment plan .”
Dry eye syndrome can also disrupt driving safely . As Dr . Whitman explains , “ Dry eye symptoms can affect your vision either intermittently or constantly , and it can make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable . At Key-Whitman , we have a dry eye center just to address dry eye problems , and with most patients , we can reduce symptoms significantly and make it more comfortable to wear contacts .”
Cases of dry eye symptoms are on the rise , too . This is especially true for individuals who work on computers , watch a lot of TV , or where excessive screen time is the norm .
Problems with your vision can be easy to correct and there are many options . Begin with a thorough eye exam . “ The best way to maintain eye health and achieve your best vision is to take time to get your complete eye exam every year , just like you would a regular health physical ,” Dr . Whitman says .
Along with diagnosing and treating eye diseases and conditions like glaucoma , cataracts and dry eye syndrome , it is imperative to visit an eye doctor regularly to ensure your glasses and contact lens prescriptions are kept current . If your prescription is outdated and no longer correct , it means you are driving with incorrect and altered vision , too .
LASIK eye surgery may help you drive more safely . Dr . Whitman also encourages patients to consider LASIK eye surgery to further improve vision , especially if they have trouble wearing contacts and seeing well at night . As he explains , “ Studies have shown that patients who previously wore contact lenses and then had the LASIK pro-
2 TEXOMA AREA Living Well Magazine | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016