Driving Glasses -- Research Summary
BACKGROUND: About 14 million
Americans have low vision. Low vision is a significant
reduction of visual function that cannot be fully
corrected by ordinary glasses, contact lenses, medical
treatment and/or surgery. Low vision affects people of
all ages. It affects daily activities like reading,
cooking, taking medication and watching television.
People with severe low vision may be classified as
partially sighted and/or legally blind.
Low vision can include a loss of central vision from
macular degeneration or optic atrophy, scattered dark
patches caused by diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or
retinal detachment, tunnel vision that may be caused by
glaucoma or stroke, or contrast loss as may be caused by
cataracts or corneal disease. Other conditions causing
low vision may have the person seeing blurred or
distorted objects. People with low vision often are
unable to drive.
TELESCOPIC GLASSES: Commercially
available telescopic glasses can help some people with
low vision drive legally. The glasses are intended for
people who have enough vision that they can maintain the
car on the road, maintain the distance of the car ahead
of them, spot a pedestrian on the roadway, see other
cars, and do any necessary maneuvers but who are unable
to see images where sharp vision is needed. This can
include reading road signs or detecting the color on a
traffic light. For these individuals, the telescopic
glasses may help. Most of the driving is done using the
regular lens, but when they have to read a sign or see a
light, they tip their head and look through the bioptic
lens mounted on one side. This is only about 5 percent
of the time they are driving. The glasses are permitted
to use while driving in 34 states.
THE NEXT STEP: The bioptic lenses
that are currently available have a bulky lens
protruding from one side of the glasses. The telescopic
glasses cost between $1,000 and $2,000. Because of their
appearance, people may be hesitant to use them. For this
reason, Eli Peli, O.D., of the Schepens Eye Institute in
Boston, is working on developing a lens that has the
telescope embedded in the lens.
Dr. Peli also says the traditional telescopic lenses
have a major problem. When the person looks through the
lens, part of their view of the road becomes blocked. A
new lens Dr. Peli is developing moves the view of the
magnified telescope towards the sky where it does not
block the road view and the person is able to continue
monitoring the road. Dr. Peli says it may take as long
as five years before the lens has been developed and
manufactured for the market.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers
Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To
subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
If you would like more information, please
contact:
Rich Godfrey
Volunteer Patient
Liaison
Schepens Eye Research Institute
20
Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617)
912-2569
