If you are aged 60 or older, driving a car might be riskier than you realise.
Research shows that your ability to see moving objects while you are moving deteriorates, much sooner than your ability to see objects that are still. Age-related eye diseases can also compromise vision, even before you are aware of symptoms.
And as you grow older, your driving skills are further challenged because you also lose peripheral vision and your reaction time slows.
Driving is not just about getting from one place to another, it is about how we live our lives.
Losing the ability to drive or choosing to limit where we drive can mean losing more than just transportation.
It can mean losing your independence, becoming reliant on others for your most basic needs,
and ultimately having to leave your family home and move into care.
Honking horns, worried loved ones, warnings from police and blinding headlights all suggest the need for an eye test.
If you are having difficulty driving, limit yourself to shorter trips, preferably during daylight and when weather conditions are favorable, until your vision is assessed and you are fitted with the right pair of glasses.
Keep your car serviced regularly, plan extra time for travel, stay the recommended distance behind the vehicle in front of you and follow expert advice for driving safely.
As you age, your pupils get smaller and don’t dilate as quickly in the dark. This can affect the reaction time of older drivers at night.
Current NSW laws state an eye examination is mandatory for all drivers every year after 75.
We conduct a thorough investigation of your vision, including extra checks for any degenerative eye disease, including cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
We choose to thoroughly examine your eyes and we make use of every resource available to us.
We take the time to get to know you, and to provide a range of pre- and diagnostic testing before making our recommendations.
This is what really sets us apart.
If you’re having difficulty driving it may not mean that you need a new prescription. It could be something as simple as your glasses not fitting you properly, and a simple adjustment is all it takes to keep you on the road.
‘A 90 year-old came in the other day – he was experiencing double vision – and all we did was adjust his glasses and he said, “oh yeah that’s much better.” He walked out relieved and it gave me tremendous satisfaction. Something so simple, but it meant so much,’ says Ian Donald.
Most people don’t realise that glasses need to be adjusted regularly, to fit your face properly.
Our optical dispensing team is here to guide, advise and assist you 6 days a week.
Your ability to drive greatly impacts on your social and emotional health, so we do what it takes to ensure your vision is as good as it can be.
With some common eye conditions such as presbyopia, your prescription may need more frequent changes to help you maintain optimum eyesight.
If you have cataracts, you could have implants during surgery, which may provide sharper vision and better contrast sensitivity than a traditional, spherical intraocular lens.
If you have diabetes, get your eyes examined at least once a year and closely follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding your diet, medications and lifestyle to reduce your risk of diabetic retinopathy, which can cause severe vision loss without warning.
Your glasses will help you to see, but you may not be equipped for glare, hard-to-read signs and the other unique challenges of twilight and night-time driving.
Anti-reflective coatings can cut down on glare, and lenses developed with wavefront diagnostic technology may be able to reduce halos, starbursts, glare and other problems caused by eye aberrations.
If you’re over 60, you need an eye test with Ian Donald and the team at Ian Donald Optometrist. We’d love to meet you.
We have treated generations of families in the community. Your family becomes our family.
Contact Ian Donald Optometrist today.
