A Study of Driving Behaviors among Patients with Chronic Ophthalmological Disorders.
10.3341/jkos.2012.53.4.559
- Author:
Jun Ho CHOI
1
;
A Ran CHO
;
Seung Joo HA
;
Kyung Seek CHOI
;
Sung Jin LEE
;
Song Hee PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. scheye@hosp.sch.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Chronic ophthalmologic disorder;
Driving;
Survey;
Visual acuity;
Visual field
- MeSH:
Aptitude Tests;
Diabetic Retinopathy;
Glaucoma;
Glycosaminoglycans;
Humans;
Licensure;
Macular Degeneration;
Retinal Vessels;
Self-Assessment;
Visual Acuity;
Visual Fields
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2012;53(4):559-564
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study examines driving behaviors among patients treated for chronic ophthalmologic disorders and the effects of visual acuity and visual field on driving performance. METHODS: A 15-item survey was given to 153 patients treated for chronic ophthalmologic disorders including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, retinal vessel occlusions, and senile macular degeneration. Six items questioned the patient's discomfort based on a five-point scale according to different driving conditions and one item involved a self-assessment of driving problems. Results were compared with the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and visual fields of the patients. RESULTS: In total, 16.2% of first-class drivers and 24.1% of second-class drivers rated below the evaluation standards of the driving license aptitude test. Overall, 82.6% of the patients continued to drive, while 7.8% renounced driving due to decreased visual acuity. Patient discomfort was significantly correlated with visual acuity (r = -0.503, p < or = 0.01). Among the patients scoring below the evaluation standards, 74.2% responded that their visual acuity had become a problem while driving. CONCLUSIONS: These results call for appropriate driving programs and measures to educate people about responsive driving considering the visual function of patients treated for chronic ophthalmologic disorders.
