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Br J Ophthalmol 2002;86:1262-1264 doi:10.1136/bjo.86.11.1262
  • Scientific correspondence

Relation between perceived driving disability and scores of vision screening tests

  1. L J van Rijn1,
  2. H Wilhelm2,
  3. M Emesz3,
  4. R Kaper1,
  5. S Heine2,
  6. S Nitsch3,
  7. G Grabner3,
  8. H J Völker-Dieben1
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  2. 2Universitäts-Augenklinik, Tübingen, Germany
  3. 3Landesaugenklinik für Augenheilkunde und Optometrie, Salzburg, Austria
  1. Correspondence to: Dr L J van Rijn, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, PO Box 7057, NL-1007 MB, Amsterdam, Netherlands; vanrijn{at}vumc.nl
  • Accepted 11 June 2002

Abstract

Aim: To determine the relation between perceived driving disability and vision screening tests.

Methods: 93 subjects, aged 50 years and over, with binocular visual acuity of at least 20/80. Perceived driving disability (PDD) was assessed by a questionnaire. Subtracting daytime from night-time driving question scores revealed PDD at night (PDDN), subtracting scores of questions for driving in familiar places from those in unfamiliar places revealed PDD at unfamiliar places (PDDU).

Results: PDD was strongly related to visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and useful field of view (UFOV). Specific relations existed between PDDN and Nyktotests and Mesotests and between PDDU and UFOV. These associations were enhanced in a subset of subjects with better visual acuities.

Conclusions: Vision screening tests correlate well with perceived driving disabilities, especially when a subtraction method is used in the questionnaire to reveal condition dependent disabilities. Additional tests for visual acuity are useful, especially in subjects with better visual acuity.

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