Research from Australia have linked specific visual field defects to a higher car-crash risk.  

The University of Western Australia study is the first population-based investigation comparing a significant ophthalmic database of visual fields for older adults with police-reported crashes, licensing and hospital morbidity data.   

Evaluating 29 years of data from more than 31,000 drivers in Western Australia (WA) aged 50 and older, researchers found more than 4,000 older drivers (14% of WA older drivers), were involved in at least one car crash. More than half of those in a crash were experiencing some visual field loss. 

Results suggest that the area of vision affected and its severity contributed significantly to crash risk: visual field loss of any sort in both eyes increased the odds of a car crash by 84%; moderate visual field loss in one eye increased car crash risk only if it occurred in the left upper or lower quadrants; severe vision loss in any quadrant increased the chances of an accident. 

However, central vision loss in either eye was not associated with an increase in car crash incident. 

Many people think that only good visual acuity or clarity of vision is necessary for safe driving, said lead researcher Dr Siobhan Manners. “We hope these results will help educate the public about the importance of having an adequate field of vision to be able to continue driving safely. We also hope to better inform clinicians, licensing authorities and people with visual field defects of the thresholds for visual field loss that still allow for safe driving.” 

The study was presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).