Reported visual difficulties of low-vision and non-impaired older adults while performing daily and driving tasks

Older adults will comprise nearly 25% of the American population by 2025 and nearly 95% of older adults over the age of 60 will continue to drive. It is commonly known and has been demonstrated that physiological changes, such as changes in our vision, occur as we age and may effect our driving ability. Some age-related changes in vision, such as presbyopia or farsightedness are correctable, however; other forms of age-related visual decline, such as "low vision," cannot be corrected so easily. Additionally, little is known about older adult drivers, diagnosed with low vision, because these individuals are often excluded from driving studies. In this study, a factor analysis was performed on self reported questionnaire responses to determine the type of visual difficulties experienced by non-impaired and low vision older adults. Using the factors as predictors, a discriminant analysis was performed to determine whether any reported differences between the groups were due to unique visual difficulties experienced by either group or to varying degrees of specific difficulties experienced by both groups.; Results indicated that the majority of participants reported that they require more time now than in the past to perform daily tasks which depended upon their vision, regardless of their visual status. However, low vision older adults reported experiencing unique problems with tasks relating to static acuity. Furthermore, 72.8% of the older adult participants interviewed reported that they continued to drive. 57.4% of the low vision participants interviewed reported that they drove. Both non-impaired and low vision older adult drivers reported experiencing difficulty with glare, peripheral vision, and with night driving. Low vision drivers reported experiencing unique difficulties with near acuity, distance acuity, and physical obstructions.