Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the prevalence of low visual acuity that does not meet the requirement of European Driving License Committee (EDLC) amongst automobile drivers and its influence on their driving habits.
Methods:
Cross sectional study of 533 participants. Our study was held from October 2011 until August 2012. Inclusion criteria: having a binocular vision, practicing drivers aged 18 years or older, and having european class A (motorcycles), B (Motor vehicles), or BE (Motor vehicles with trailer exceeding 750 kilograms) driving license. The best corrected binocular visual acuity (VA) were assessed with a Snellen E chart using standardized protocols and compared to the standards of EDLC. The driving habits questionnaire was focused on the frequency, duration and distance of driving of our study group.
Results:
184 females (34.5%) and 349 males (65.5%) were included in our study. The mean age was 60.6 years (19 to 93). The mean of binocular VA was 20/25. 470 patients (88.2%) had binocular VA greater than or equal to 20/40 which meets the current minimal visual acuity requirement of EDLC. 63 patients (11.8%) of the study population had binocular VA less than 20/40. 61.9% of persons with binocular vision less than 20/40 drive in daily pattern, 27% drive once a week and 11.1% occasionally. Amongst the group who didn't meet the required VA, 27% drive in rural, urban roads and highways. 15.9% drive in urban and rural pathways. The percentage of patients driving within the city was 14.3%. 6.3% take the rural and highways. 3.2% only drive in urban zone and highways. 57.1% of persons with binocular VA less than 20/40 travel for a distance more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The mean of kilometers traveled by low binocular vision group was 6404 kilometers (3979.26 miles).
Conclusions:
Driving with a low VA is a real security and public health problem. Further visual screening such as visual field and cognitive capacity evaluation should be studied to be considered as screening parameters for high risk group drivers.
Keywords: 434 binocular vision/stereopsis •
584 low vision •
754 visual acuity