Eye test call for older drivers

A research review of vision screening for drivers over the age of 65 years has identified vision testing of older drivers as an important road safety issue.

Findings published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2014 Issue 2) showed vision screening regulations and cut-off values required to pass a licensing test varied from country to country, and identified a clear need to develop evidence-based and validated tools for vision screening for driving.

Demographic data from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand found a rapid growth in the over-65s. It added that components of visual function essential for driving, including acuity, static acuity, dynamic acuity, visual fields, visual attention, depth perception and contrast sensitivity, were not typically fully assessed by licensing agencies.