Chronic Vision Concerns and Impact on Driving

It is no secret that it is a challenge to drive without the ability to see clearly; however, one of the problems with vision is that many people do not realize that they have trouble seeing until it is too late. If someone drives without the ability to see clearly, they are at an increased risk of being involved in a car accident. This is where chronic vision concerns can have a significant impact on someone's ability to drive a motor vehicle safely.

An Overview of Chronic Vision Problems: Glaucoma

A recent research study was published in an optic journal that discussed one of the most common chronic vision problems, glaucoma, and the impact it can have on someone's ability to drive. When someone develops glaucoma, they suffer damage of one (or more) of the key nerves that supply vision, motor, and sensory function to the eye called the optic nerve. As the optic nerve starts to sustain damage, it becomes a challenge for people to see clearly. While people can receive early treatment and slow the progression of glaucoma, many don't even realize they are suffering from glaucoma until someone points out that they are having trouble seeing. This delay in seeking treatment often means that the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage. When people visit the eye doctor with glaucoma, there are detailed tests that are run that determine just how severe their glaucoma is. One of the most common vision problems that are detected at the doctor's office is a deficit in someone's peripheral vision. This damage can make it difficult to see clearly and to sense changes in one's surroundings.

Glaucoma and the Impact on Driving: Study Results

A team of medical professionals took a look at all of the literature that was available in the electronic databases to determine whether glaucoma led to an increased risk of someone being involved in an auto accident. After a thorough search, they found that the studies al assigned a varying degree of importance to the impact of glaucoma on someone's ability to drive; however, the studies demonstrated that glaucoma does negatively impact someone's ability to drive to some degree of severity. When someone suffers from glaucoma and loses a degree of peripheral vision, it is a challenge to see what is going on alongside their vehicle. This failure to detect other vehicles (or pedestrians) on the road increases the chances of being involved in a car accident. After all, it is difficult to avoid something that someone never sees. The research study finished by saying that more research is needed to explore the impact of glaucoma on car accidents. Specifically, do car accidents involving glaucoma increase the risk of sustaining traumatic injuries, such as bone fractures? Do they increase the risk of someone suffering a wrongful death? These are all questions that deserve to be answered.

Help with Vision and Car Crashes

Vision plays a vital role in someone's ability to drive a car or a truck safely and glaucoma is only one of many different chronic vision diseases that someone might suffer from. There are numerous others such as macular degeneration and retinal detachment which can acutely impact someone's driving abilities. If someone has been involved in a serious car crash, this can place their family under a major degree of stress. Families could be left wondering how they are going to make ends meet when someone is in the hospital and unable to work. For help with the numerous issues that arise following a severe car accident, it is prudent to seek advice from an experienced personal injury lawyer. An attorney has been through these situations many times before and is equipped to help a family explore all of the legal options available to them.

Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. When someone has been involved in a car accident involving vision concerns, this can create a complicated situation. Those who would like free, friendly advice should reach out to me. Our phone number is 916.921.6400 and our toll-free line is (800) 404-5400.

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Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 7.16.20]

Image Source: Unsplash 

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