(Photo credit: Ken Teegardin/Flickr)
We rely on our vision to determine when to stop for a pedestrian, decide when it’s safe to make a turn or when to slow down. Your eyesight is crucial when it comes to operating a vehicle and it’s important that you can properly see while driving.
Before you are granted your license, Ontario drivers must pass a vision test. You will be tested on how well you can see details (visual acuity) and on your peripheral vision (horizontal visual field). While applying for a car or motorcycle license, you must have vision that’s better than 20/50 with or without glasses or contact lenses and have a 120o horizontal visual field.
But after you’ve received your license, you’re responsible for evaluating your vision while driving.
Unfortunately, not all drivers with low vision give up driving. Seniors over the age of 70 have one of the highest accident rates per kilometre driven, according to a 2013 report by Statistics Canada. Forty three per cent of seniors who were able to read the newspaper with glasses, but unable to recognize a friend from across the street, even with glasses on, still kept their licenses. There are seniors with worse vision, those who wore glasses and still unable to see a friend across the street or read the newspaper, who also held onto their license.
Recently, Ontario changed its driver renewal process for seniors, which includes a vision test, a review of their driving record, an education session and two exercises that tests a senior’s mental abilities.
Researchers also continue to look for ways to improve our vision. It was only about two decades ago when laser corrective surgery became available and since then, more than 75,000 surgeries have been performed.
Recently, a new prosthetic was created for adults experiencing severe vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). This condition affects about 11,000 Canadians and it leads to gradual vision loss. But this new prosthetic can help them differentiate between colours, distinguish between different letters and see motion, according to the Hospital News.
The signs of vision loss can be subtle and it’s important to regularly have your eyes checked. There are a huge range of eye conditions that can affect your vision, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, presbyopia and diabetic retinopathy. Some of these conditions can be remedied if they’re caught early enough.
Eye exams can also uncover other underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or brain or eye tumors.
Adults between the age of 19 to 64 should visit an optometrist at least once every two years and any seniors above the age of 65 should visit annually, according to the Doctors of Optometry Canada. Anyone with diabetes should also visit annually.
In 2012, there were 165,172 injuries from motor vehicle collisions, according to Transport Canada. There were 2,077 fatal motor vehicle collisions, which increased from 2,023 accidents the year before. While car companies are looking into technological innovations to improve safety in a vehicle, such as warnings about distracted driving, the driver remains responsible for safe driving.
Motor vehicle accidents happen and accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of who caused the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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