Vision and Driving
When driving, the two most important things about your eyesight are visual acuity (how clearly you can see into the distance) and visual field (how much you can see of what is going on around you, outside your line of direct vision). National uniform guidelines on fitness to drive of private vehicle drivers have been developed by the Austroads Council. These have been approved by all Australian driver licensing authorities since 1998 and replace all previous fitness to drive guidelines.
Conditions which reduce the visual acuity in one eye can significantly impair distance judgement and increase the risk of accident. Corneal ulcerations (both infective and traumatic), eye patches, asymmetrical macular degeneration, retinal detachments and retinal circulation problems can all suddenly change distance appreciation.
NIGHT VISION
Statistics show that over 40% of all traffic collisions occur at night, despite only 60% of the amount of traffic being on the roads. Consequently, the risk of having a traffic accident is at its highest level at night: light cones, reflections, mirror images, limited vision, low contrasts and overall adverse visual conditions irritate and fatigue the eyes and the human sensory system overall.
At our Smart Vision Optometry practices, we use the exclusive ZEISS i.Profiler technology, an innovative technique that allows us to prescribe bespoke glasses and lenses that significantly improve poor-light vision, colour perception and night vision problems. 98% of our patients who currently wear these lenses have reported to experience much clearer and super sharp vision at night and to perceive contrasts and colours more intensively.
If you wish to schedule an i.Profiler eye examination, please contact one of our Behavioural Optometry practices in Bondi and Mosman.