Older Washington Drivers Are Reluctant to Admit Their Vision Is Declining

Many elderly people experience declines in vision. They tend to cope and adjust to this growing impairment, but getting used to bad vision doesn't make it better. There is also a point when their eyesight diminishes so rapidly that it can't be corrected properly or requires very frequent changes of glasses.

For older drivers, declining vision quickly raises the risk of accidents, as we pointed out in a recent article on elderly driving.

When does declining vision affect your driving skills?

• When you have problems reading highway or street signs;
• When, especially at night, dawn or dusk, you have trouble seeing lane lines, medians, curbs and other pavement markings;
• When you experience discomfort at night from the glare of oncoming headlights, and drive too slowly as a result.

Is there anything an older driver with bad vision can do?

The most important step is to make sure you have the best glasses for your current eyesight. Get a new eye exam and prescription glasses to improve your vision as much as possible. Wear large and wide sunglasses over your prescription glasses whenever sunlight makes your vision uncomfortable.

Clean your windshield, mirrors and headlights regularly and make sure your headlights are well aimed to maximize your view at night. Sit as high as you can in your seat so that you can see the road for at least 10 feet in front of your car. This makes a big difference in reducing the amount of glare you experience from oncoming headlights at night.

If you are 60 or older, see an eye doctor every year to check for macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and other conditions associated with aging.

If you have been involved in a car accident, contact now the Everett-based Monro Law Firm for a free consultation on your case.