Are your eyes good enough for driving?
Driving in India is a multi-faceted phenomenon. Apart from the standard mandatory road safety precautions which everyone is expected to follow, driving in India is influenced by a number of other factors.
Poorly-designed speed breakers, non-existent passenger crossings, ever-increasing number of vehicles, indiscriminate road-hopping incidents, never-ending repair work, and absence of street lighting are just some of the issues that make driving equivalent to an art requiring the finesse of an artist.
Amidst this, the importance of vision in the act of driving cannot be stressed enough. A staggering 386 million Indian’s require glasses or change of glasses, every year. However, more than 30 per cent of the driving population are either unaware of or continue to ignore their vision-related problems.
Strain and UV radiation
Every day, we are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. And we don’t realise it as UV radiation is invisible to the eye. Over time, UV radiation can cause severe damage to the eyes. Fortunately, this damage can be prevented by wearing correct sunglasses.
Lighting and glare
Glare is bothersome and discomforting, causing the eyes to work even harder. The pupils contract, eyelids narrow and the muscles around the eyes contract. At such instances, the eyes strain to see well, causing squinting, eye fatigue, and in extreme cases, even temporary blindness.
Many drivers have difficulty driving at night, as light from streetlights, oncoming headlights, and other sources reflect from the street’s surface and present serious visibility problems. It is essential to wear correct eye protection when driving in sunny weather.
A part of the driving population also suffers from ‘night myopia’ — when lack of light can cause difficulty in focusing on distant objects. Becoming older also brings physical changes that affect driving abilities. The exact age at which such changes occur vary from person to person. Nearly all drivers over the age of 60 need to reduce driving at night.
Tips for safe driving
*Avoid the use of medium or dark blue sunglasses which can seriously interfere with your ability to distinguish traffic light colours.
*Lenses worn at night should be clear and should have an anti-reflective coating. nYour headlights should be clean and properly aligned.
*Visit an eye-care professional at least once every two years, or more frequently if you have a significant eye condition or visual complaint.
*Be aware that driving under the influence of some medication can dramatically diminish your ability to react to unexpected road hazards.
*To minimise glare exposure when driving at night, do not look directly at the headlights of oncoming vehicles. Instead, direct your gaze down the road and toward the right side of the lane in which you are driving.
*If you have diabetes, get your eyes examined at least once yearly and closely follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding diet, blood sugar control, insulin and self-care.
*Ask your eye care professional to prescribe special eyeglasses that may help you see better on the road at night.
(Chief Medical Officer, Sankara Eye Hospital)
