About 90 percent of the information needed to drive safely comes in through the eyes.
With age, vision can change in several ways, including:
- More light is needed to see clearly
- Glare from reflected sun or headlights makes it more difficult to see
- It takes longer for eyes to adjust when going from low-light to bright areas
- Judging how far away or close an object is more difficult
- The field of vision, the area that can be seen without turning the head, decreases
- Seeing moving objects is more difficult
Some age-related health conditions affect vision, including:
- Cataracts, which can blur or decrease vision, reduce night vision, and make it difficult to judge distances and see colors
- Glaucoma, which can reduce peripheral vision, making it difficult to see objects on the right or left
- Macular degeneration, which can distort or blur vision and cause blind spots
- Diabetic retinopathy, which can make vision blurry, spotty or hazy and make it difficult to see colors
Annual eye examinations are recommended for all adults over age 60. Optometrists and ophthalmologists can check eye health and vision. They can answer questions about vision and driving.
