Avoiding Motor Vehicle Accidents Due To Eye Problems

Most people are well aware that aging will bring changes to their bodies and abilities. Even so, it can be difficult for some to accept how these changes may impact their lives. This is particularly true if it makes tasks of daily living more difficult.

One of the more common changes many people in Louisiana experience as they age is a decline in their vision. It may be as simple as needing reading glasses or as impactful as total vision loss. However, experts say that you can empower yourself by knowing the signs of vision changes and when to seek medical advice. Failing to do so could put you at serious risk of harm, especially while driving. You can avoid motor vehicle accidents due to vision changes by working with an optometrist and staying alert.


How our vision changes

As you get older, your risk of developing different eye diseases rises. These can include age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Any of these vision problems have the potential to negatively affect your vision for the rest of your life if they are not treated quickly and thoroughly.

Even some chronic illnesses have the potential to affect your vision. Diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy, which can eventually cause blindness. Certain conditions carry a higher risk of vision difficulties, such as those with hypertension or who take medication with vision-related side effects.

How vision changes affect our driving

Vision changes can come on so gradually that you may not realize there is a problem. Some signs that you may need your vision checked include difficulty reading road signs or the instruments in your car, trouble driving in low-light conditions or even in increased light, and changes in side vision. Changes like these and others may make it hard for you to drive and can put you at risk of getting into a crash.

Fortunately, there are ways to stay safe while driving if you’re concerned about the effects of aging on your eyesight. Make sure that you have your eyes checked every year to keep your prescription current and find any developing eye problems early. You may want to consider taking a driving course designed especially for senior drivers, which could even lower your insurance costs. When you must drive, be sure to exercise additional caution at intersections and slow down. Finally, you may want to consider driving only in the daytime.

Help for those injured in a car crash

Even with all of these helpful suggestions, motor vehicle accidents will still happen to people of all ages. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a crash with someone who should not have been driving, for any reason, you may want to consider filing a civil lawsuit. Consulting with an attorney may be the best choice a driver could make.