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Pattern deviation impairment in glaucoma patients may increase risk of motor vehicle collisions
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Drivers with glaucoma who have severely impaired pattern deviation may have an elevated risk for being at fault in motor vehicle collisions, according to a study.
The retrospective cohort study evaluated the association between binocular visual field measurements and motor vehicle collisions among 438 drivers with glaucoma who were age 55 years or older. Threshold, total deviation and pattern deviation were measured in comparison to collision rates.
Participants with severely impaired threshold and total deviation had a 49% and 50% increased rate of at-fault motor vehicle collisions, respectively, which was not significant compared with those in a reference group of drivers who did not have severely impaired values.
Patients with severely impaired pattern deviation had a significantly elevated at-fault motor vehicle collision rate compared with those in the reference group. Impairments in the upper and left aspects of the visual field were most common.
“These measures can provide a clinical marker or set of markers that can be used not only to potentially identify glaucoma patients at risk of [motor vehicle collision] involvement but also to begin a dialogue with the patient about driver safety,” the study authors said. – by Kristie L. Kahl
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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