Bill Harvey: A sensible move for cataract sufferers

Firstly, we heard the news that those with low grade cataract, pretty well everyone over a certain age, were not to be regarded as a threat to public safety, nor indeed have to inform the DVLA of their eye health.

This would seem a sensible move bearing in mind the high prevalence of early cataract and the lack of evidence for its being of safety concern. Indeed, the excellent work of Gill Woods over in Australia has highlighted the important role cognitive ability and reaction response has when predicting driving safety. High contrast acuity as a driving safety predictor is questionable.

Another story this week concerned a new RAC survey which found that 15% of UK drivers say they have suffered a near miss after being dazzled by modern car headlights they believe to be too bright. It went on, ‘Of the 65% of drivers that said they regularly get dazzled by oncoming car lights, the majority said it takes up to five seconds for them to see normally again. If travelling at 60mph, this can mean they are unable to see properly while travelling for up to 134 metres.’