Caring for your eyesight will help you keep your driver's license and maintain your independence.

In places like the South Bay, driving is the key to mobility and independence. Research has shown that visual field loss of any sort in both eyes increases the risk of a car accident by 84%, and vision loss can make it difficult for seniors to maintain their driving privileges. The good news is the two most common vision issues in seniors—cataract and dry eye—are highly treatable. Damien Goldberg, MD, a Torrance Memorial ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, tells individuals concerned about their ability to drive safely to see their doctor as soon as possible.

What conditions commonly affect vision and can make driving difficult for seniors?

Many medical conditions affect vision and make it difficult to drive, including glaucoma, diabetes, cerebral palsy, stroke and multiple sclerosis. One of the most common reasons seniors have issues with night driving is glare from cataracts. If cataracts are the issue, patients should seek medical care and attempt to improve their vision with glasses or contacts. If glasses or contacts no longer improve their vision, they may want to consider cataract surgery. Another common source of glare at night is dry eye. When the cornea gets dry, it causes light to scatter—making it hard to see through.

What are the general vision requirements for having a driver’s license?

Every state has different requirements, but in California your vision has to be 20/100 in daylight and 20/40 at night (with or without glasses or contacts), and you need 150 degrees of visibility in one eye to drive legally.

How can seniors protect and maintain their driving privileges?

No one ever thinks they have dry eye or cataracts until they experience difficulty driving at night, trouble reading street signs or discomfort from bright headlights. First, they need glasses with an up-to-date prescription. If they have dry eye they can use drops, or if necessary prescription medication. If they have a compromised field of vision, they can undergo testing and occupational therapy to maximize their night vision, or they may need to cease driving at night. Finally, they need to be evaluated for cataracts and have them treated.

If your vision is affected but you still qualify for a license, how can you make driving safer for yourself and others?

I often see patients who are having difficulty driving. They mention hitting curbs or accidentally hitting other cars while parking. Whether we want to admit it or not, as we age our attention and reflexes are not what they were when we were 18. There are alternative ways to get around. If you’re not comfortable driving at certain times of the day, you have the option to use Uber, Lyft or other ride-sharing services, or paratransit. The majority of people know when they are no longer comfortable behind the wheel. It takes time to accept limitations, but I tell my patients, “Be truthful to yourself and your family, because we all care about you.”

Dry eye can easily be alleviated with over-the-counter lubrication drops like Refresh, Systane or Retaine. Some patients may need prescription medication for their dry eye, and several products are now on the market offering relief, such as Restasis, Xiidra, Cequa, Miebo and Tryvaya. Patients who have undergone previous eye surgeries like LASIK, blepharoplasty or even routine cataract surgery can sometimes be more likely to develop dry eye.