TIPS FOR IMPROVING VISION WHILE DRIVING

Did you know that vision changes can affect your ability to drive safely?
For most people, these problems become quickly obvious, while for others, they may cause a gradual loss of vision that’s less noticeable, reducing the quality of vision.

VISION CHANGES THAT AFFECT DRIVING

1: Color Vision Deficiency: it causes difficulty distinguishing between colors, such as green and red traffic lights.

2. Cataracts: it’s the cloudiness of the natural lens inside the eyes that causes blurry vision, glare, and halos around lights.

3. Glaucoma: a condition that damages the eye’s optic nerve. Often with no warning signs or obvious symptoms in its early stages. The progression of this condition causes blind spots in vision, tunnel vision, or loss of peripheral vision.

4. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD): this disease damages a part of the retina called the macula, causing loss of central vision, blind spots, distorted vision, or difficulty seeing road markings.

5. Diabetic Retinopathy: occurs when high blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels in the retina, leading to blurry vision, double vision, or loss of peripheral and central vision.

6. Near-sightedness (Myopia): causes difficulty in seeing distant objects, such as road signs or pedestrians.

7. Far-sightedness (refractive error): it’s also called hyperopia and causes difficulty in seeing close objects, such as GPS screens or dashboard controls.

8. Astigmatism: causes distorted vision, blurry vision, or eye strain while driving.

9. Presbyopia (Refractive error): an age-related loss of near vision that causes difficulty in reading road signs, and GPS screens or menus.

10. Night Blindness: causes difficulty to see in low light environments, such as driving at night.

11. Peripheral Vision Loss: causing difficulty in detecting pedestrians, vehicles, or road hazards.

12. Depth Perception Loss: causes difficulties in judging distances, such as when merging or parking.

TIPS TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING

1: Keep windscreens, glasses, sunglasses, and lights clean
2: Make sure your mirrors are always properly adjusted, frequently look in your rear vision mirrors to scan the edges of the road while you’re driving
3: Keep your speed down if conditions reduce visibility and avoid excessive speed.
4: Consider having a pair of tinted glasses made to your prescription and use a sun visor on sunny days.
5: Never wear sunglasses for night driving
6: Wear contact lenses or corrective spectacles with an up-to-date prescription.
7: Have your headlights properly maintained by promptly replacing broken bulbs so they adequately light the road.

CONCLUSION.

If you notice any of these vision changes or symptoms such as a decrease in vision or blurry vision, glare or halos when looking at oncoming headlights or streetlights, dark spot in your central or peripheral vision, and difficulty reading road signs or spotting pedestrians in yourself or a loved one, regardless of the person’s age, make an appointment with an optometrist right away for guidance on safe driving practices and potential corrective measures. Visit TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako-Abuja, to consult an eye care professional.

TREVEC CARES!!!