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Older drivers' self‐reported vision‐related night‐driving difficulties and night‐driving performance
Author(s) -
Kimlin Janessa A,
Black Alex A,
Wood Joanne M
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.14311
Subject(s) - glare , photopic vision , night vision , medicine , audiology , poison control , association (psychology) , visual acuity , safe driving , optometry , contrast (vision) , ophthalmology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , medical emergency , computer science , retinal , computer vision , engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , automotive engineering , psychotherapist
Purpose To investigate associations between older drivers' perceived vision‐related night‐driving difficulties and night‐time driving performance measured on a closed‐road circuit. Methods Participants included 26 older drivers (71.8 ± 6.3 years) who reported vision‐related night‐driving difficulties assessed with the vision and night driving questionnaire (VND‐Q). High‐contrast, photopic visual acuity (VA) and ratings of discomfort glare (de Boer scale) were also assessed. Night‐time driving performance was measured on a closed‐road circuit that involved recognition, hazard avoidance and lane‐keeping tasks in the absence and presence of intermittent glare. Generalized linear mixed models investigated the relationship between VND ‐Q scores and overall driving performance scores, as well as with discomfort glare ratings and VA. Results Greater levels of vision‐related night‐driving difficulties ( VND ‐Q scores) were significantly associated with poorer night‐driving performance (p = 0.003); the association was even stronger for driving performance in the presence of intermittent glare (p = 0.001). Reduced VA was associated with poorer night‐driving performance (p = 0.022) but the association was weaker than for the VND ‐Q scores. In contrast, ratings of discomfort glare were not significantly associated with driving performance (p = 0.14). Conclusion The VND ‐Q was significantly associated with night‐time driving performance and provides a useful instrument for assessing vision‐related night‐driving difficulties which can be incorporated into clinical vision assessments.