As a driver, be aware of how different conditions can affect your vision and your ability to drive safely. If you drive when your vision falls short of the legal standards, you would be compromising your own and other drivers’ safety. To pass your driving test you’ll need to be able to read in good daylight, reading aloud a number plate from 20 metres away, with symbols that are 3 inches tall.
Steamed-up glasses can make it hard to see clearly. When warm air hits the colder surface of a lens it condenses as tiny droplets to cause fogging. An anti-fog lens coating can prevent fogging.
Glare is a source of light that hampers your vision.The glare of the sun or from the headlights of oncoming traffic at night may make your eyes uncomfortable, or even blind you temporarily
With regular eye examinations, you will know if you have the right prescription or have developed an eye condition that could affect your driving. This is particularly important as you get older, as vision naturally deteriorates over time. Here are some of the common eye conditions that can cause you problems when driving:
Age-related far sightedness may cause vision to be blurred. When driving, the dials and gauges on your dashboard may appear blurred, or you might not be able to see objects clearly in your rear view mirror.
Hyperopia causes blurred vision at all distances. While driving, you might struggle to read the dials and gauges on your dashboard, or see objects clearly in your rear view mirror.
If you are myopic distant objects are blurred. This can cause problems when you are driving, as you may not be able to see road signs, speed limits, or potential hazards.
Colour blindness affects the ability to see colour. It occurs when one or more of the red, green or blue cone cells of the retina are faulty making it difficult to distinguish between certain colours.
