The main elements of vision necessary for safe driving are visual acuity, peripheral vision and freedom from double vision (diplopia). These three items are elaborated in the following pages as Functional Ability Profile charts on visual parameters. Other, not so easily measured visual factors are discussed below: Defects in color vision, important in distinguishing traffic signals, are usually compensated for by learning traffic light positions and are not in themselves reasons to deny driving and are usually tested adequately by the road evaluation. Night vision, contrast sensitivity, and glare recovery may be impaired in the presence of corneal scars, cataracts, and retinal aging or disease. Evidence is inconclusive that testing these parameters of visual function can determine which drivers are safe. Sometimes an ocular defect or disease does not cause the applicant to fail the eye examination. If the examining clinician suspects that the condition may affect driving, it is reasonable to ask that a road test be given by a BMV driver examiner to look at specific aspects of driving. For example, a patient with retinitis pigmentosa who wants to drive at night may pass all the office eye exams but the disease's effect on the night driving remains uncertain. The clinician might recommend a patient’s night road test evaluation. Drivers with hemianopsia must meet standard vision requirements described in this Functional Ability Profile. They must also pass the Esterman field test as described in the Peripheral Vision Profile Table. Individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury or stroke should be evaluated using both the Visual Disorders and the Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA/Stroke) or Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI) FAP’s. Individuals with deficits in useful field of view and visual processing speed, as well as other visuo-spatial deficits, should be assessed for other cognitive impairments using the Dementia FAP. FOR REFERENCES, SEE BIBLIOGRAPHY AT END OF DOCUMENT. FUNCTIONAL ABILITY PROFILE
The main elements of vision necessary for safe driving are visual acuity, peripheral vision and freedom from double vision (diplopia). These three items are elaborated in the following pages as Functional Ability Profile charts on visual parameters. Other, not so easily measured visual factors are discussed below: Defects in color vision, important in distinguishing traffic signals, are usually compensated for by learning traffic light positions and are not in themselves reasons to deny driving and are usually tested adequately by the road evaluation. Night vision, contrast sensitivity, and glare recovery may be impaired in the presence of corneal scars, cataracts, and retinal aging or disease. Evidence is inconclusive that testing these parameters of visual function can determine which drivers are safe. Sometimes an ocular defect or disease does not cause the applicant to fail the eye examination. If the examining clinician suspects that the condition may affect driving, it is reasonable to ask that a road test be given by a BMV driver examiner to look at specific aspects of driving. For example, a patient with retinitis pigmentosa who wants to drive at night may pass all the office eye exams but the disease's effect on the patient’s night driving remains uncertain. The clinician might recommend a night road test evaluation. Drivers with hemianopsia must meet standard vision requirements described in this Functional Ability Profile. They must also pass the Esterman field test as described in the Peripheral Vision Profile Table. Individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury or stroke should be evaluated using both the Visual Disorders and the Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA/Stroke) or Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI) FAP’s. Individuals with deficits in useful field of view and visual processing speed, as well as other visuo-spatial deficits, should be assessed for other cognitive impairments using the Dementia FAP. FOR REFERENCES, SEE BIBLIOGRAPHY AT END OF DOCUMENT. FUNCTIONAL ABILITY PROFILE