Impact of Age-Related Vision Changes on Driving

Abstract

Aging leads to impaired visual function, which can affect driving-a very visually demanding task-and has a direct impact on an individual's quality of life if their license is withdrawn. This study examined the associations between age-related vision changes and simulated driving performance. To this end, we attempted to determine the most significant visual parameters in terms of evaluating elderly drivers' eyesight. Twenty-one younger drivers (aged 25-40) were compared to 21 older drivers (aged 56-71). Study participants were assessed for visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, halos, and intraocular straylight, which causes veiling luminance on the retina and degrades vision. Driving performance was evaluated using a driving simulator. The relationships between simulated driving performance and the visual parameters tested were examined with correlation analyses and linear regression models. Older drivers presented impairment in most visual parameters (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with straylight being the most significantly affected (we also measured the associated effect size). Older drivers performed significantly worse (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the simulator test, with a markedly lower performance in lane stability. The results of the multiple linear regression model evidenced that intraocular straylight is the best visual parameter for predicting simulated driving performance (R² = 0.513). Older drivers have shown significantly poorer results in several aspects of visual function, as well as difficulties in driving simulator performance. Our results suggest that the non-standardized straylight evaluation could be significant in driver assessments, especially at the onset of age-related vision changes.