Cataracts And Driving: How Cataracts Affect Driver Safety
Cataracts occur when the lens on your eye becomes blurred or clouded, leading to impaired vision. When it comes to driving, being able to see properly is essential. So what are the key considerations for drivers with cataracts?
In this article, we cover some essential information on cataracts, before exploring how they can affect your driving.
What are cataracts?
Cataracts are cloudy patches that develop in the lens, which is the small transparent disc inside the eye. These patches typically become larger over time, which can cause blurred vision and even lead to blindness. Cataracts usually affect both eyes but can occur in one eye.
The majority of the time, cataracts are a natural part of aging, although they can also be caused by injuries and illnesses.
How common are cataracts?
Cataracts are more common in older adults, but can also affect young children and babies. Over half of people aged 80 and over have had cataracts.
Most people will start getting signs and symptoms of the natural lens aging known as presbyopia from around 40 years old. In effect, when you reach age 40-45 you most likely will start to need reading glasses or at least adjusting your prescription to help better reading. Presbyopia gets worse with time and then intermediate vision starts to get affected. However, cataract symptoms are not typically noticeable until after you turn 60. If you are a smoker, a heavy drinker, live in a polluted area, or if cataracts run in your family, you are more likely to develop cataracts.
How do cataracts affect vision?
The lens works with the cornea to help focus light into the eyes, which the eyes then interpret into images. Over time, protein and fibre can break down and clumps can form on the lens, the transparent, flexible disc situated under the cornea and pupil. The development of these clumps, along with a decrease in flexibility, can lead to blurry or cloudy vision.
As cataracts develop, the clouding and blurriness become denser. This causes cataracts to block or scatter more light passing through the lens, which prevents a clearly defined image from reaching the retina.
Cataracts and driving
As you might expect, when driving, cataracts are a problem. Research has shown that some of the things drivers with cataracts find most problematic are (in order of difficulty):
- Driving at night
- Driving in the rain
- Driving in rush hour
- Driving in high traffic
- Parallel parking
Cataracts and night driving
Drivers with cataracts will find that driving at night can be difficult, especially because of the glare from oncoming vehicles. Driving in the daytime is typically easier for those with cataracts, but bright sunshine can also be an issue, making it hard to see other vehicles and pedestrians.
One study used goggles to simulate the effects of cataracts in participants. It found that drivers hit more hazards, recognised fewer road signs and struggled to see pedestrians wearing black clothing.
Can you legally drive with cataracts?
In the UK, you don’t have to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you currently have cataracts, or have had cataracts in the past. This applies to bus and lorry drivers, as well as car drivers, as long as their cataracts aren’t causing increased sensitivity to light.
However, you must meet the visual standards for driving. These include being able to read a car number plate (that was made after 1 September 2001) from 20 metres away, having a visual acuity of 0.5 or more, and having an adequate field of vision. You can read more about these visual standards on the UK government website.
When should cataracts be removed?
If you have been diagnosed with cataracts and they are causing you significant vision problems, then you should consider surgery. If you leave the condition untreated it could lead to blindness.
Removing cataracts in their early stages can help with problems such as difficulty seeing at night, making driving easier. Surgery for cataracts in moderate stages offer a permanent solution that can negate the need to wear strong corrective lenses or use a brighter light when reading.
One reason to think about having surgery for cataracts in their early to moderate stages is that they may become harder to remove when they are mature. Mature cataract removal can also make surgery riskier and potentially lengthen the recovery period.
You might also want to consider early cataract surgery to take advantage of the widely available premium intraocular lens implants that can make you less dependent on glasses or even free from glasses or contact lenses. Special lens implants like the multifocal or enhanced monofocal lenses could enable you to see far distance, intermediate and even read without heavily relying on glasses.
An experienced consultant ophthalmic surgeon can help you to weigh up the benefits and risks attached to cataracts surgery.
Cataracts treatment
For cataracts that are not affecting the vision significantly, using stronger glasses and brighter lights when reading can help. However, your cataracts will inevitably worsen over time, and so you’ll eventually require surgery. Surgery is the only permanent solution for cataracts.
Cataract surgery
When cataracts mean everyday activities such as driving or reading the newspaper become a challenge, it is time to consider surgery. Cataract surgery will restore your vision, helping you to regain your independence and freedom.
Modern cataract surgery is customised and convenient. At Eye Clinic London, you are in the very best hands. Our unmatched ophthalmic expertise and world-class service attract patients from all over the world.
For more information on cataract surgery, why not visit our cataract surgery FAQs page?
Talk to the experts at Eye Clinic London about cataracts treatment and surgery. Book a consultation with one of our experienced practitioners today.