The Eye Clinic4 min read
Safe driving depends on good vision, and some eye changes can creep up without you realising. Here's what to keep in mind — especially as we get older.
The vision standard for driving
To drive in New Zealand you need to meet a minimum vision standard, which is checked when you renew your licence — and more regularly once you're older. If you're not sure your vision still measures up, it's worth getting it checked.
Conditions that can affect your driving
Cataracts (glare and halos at night), glaucoma (loss of side vision) and macular degeneration (blurred central vision) can all affect driving — sometimes before you'd notice day to day. The good news is that many are treatable.
Night driving and glare
Trouble with glare and halos around headlights at night is one of the most common early signs of cataracts — and one of the most treatable. If night driving has become stressful, it's worth an assessment.
When to get checked
If driving feels harder than it used to — especially at night, or if you're missing things to the side — don't put it off. A specialist assessment can find what's going on and, often, put it right.