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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
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Driving Simulation in the Clinic: Testing Visual Exploratory Behavior in Daily Life Activities in Patients with Visual Field Defects
Published on: September 18, 2012
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Glaucoma and Driving: On-Road Driving Characteristics.
Joanne M Wood1, Alex A Black1, Kerry Mallon1
1School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Plos One
|July 30, 2016
Summary
Older drivers with glaucoma have more driving errors, especially at intersections and traffic lights, despite reporting good driving ability. On-road assessments are crucial for evaluating fitness to drive.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Transportation Safety
Background:
- Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
- Visual field loss in glaucoma can impact driving ability.
- Objective assessment of driving performance is needed for older adults with glaucoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare driving errors and locations between older drivers with glaucoma and controls.
- To identify specific challenges faced by drivers with glaucoma on the road.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of standardized on-road driving assessments.
Main Methods:
- 75 drivers with glaucoma and 70 age-matched controls participated.
- On-road driving performance was assessed using a standardized scoring system.
- Driving safety, errors, critical errors, and self-reported ability were recorded.
Main Results:
- Drivers with glaucoma were less safe and made more errors than controls.
- Errors frequently occurred at traffic lights and intersections, involving lane positioning and planning.
- Glaucoma drivers had nearly double the rate of critical errors requiring intervention.
Conclusions:
- Mild to moderate glaucoma-related field loss impairs driving ability in older adults.
- Deficits are most apparent in complex driving situations requiring tactical skills.
- On-road assessments are vital, as self-reported driving ability may not reflect actual performance.
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