Cataracts and Driving: Understanding the Risks & Impact

Cataracts develop slowly and may not affect a person's vision or driving ability in the early stages. Unfortunately, the fact that cataracts develop slowly sometimes means that a person does not realize just how bad her vision has become. After a diagnosis of cataracts, it is important to have regular vision tests and take note of any changes in vision.

Accident Risk

• According to The Eye Digest, older drivers with cataracts are more than twice as likely to have an accident than drivers without cataracts.

Low-Contrast Problems

• Cataracts interfere with an individual's ability to see well in a low-contrast environment. This can make it especially difficult to drive in rain or fog. Low-contrast vision problems also make it difficult to see faded pavement markings and debris in the roadway.

Night Driving

• Night driving can be particularly difficult for people with cataracts because they may experience strong glare from oncoming headlights and generally poor night vision.

Driving Help

• Specialists can assess the driving skills of individuals with cataracts and help them improve those skills. Eye doctors and hospitals should have information about local rehabilitative driving specialists.

Surgery

• The University of Alabama at Birmingham reports that people who elect to have cataracts removed decrease their risk of having an automobile accident by 50 percent.