Study: Eye Doctors Fail to Follow Up on Assessments of Older Drivers

While most ophthalmologists and optometrists aim to routinely ask older patients about their driving vision, they often fail to follow up with further questions or communications on the topic, according to a University of Michigan Health System news release.

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A survey of eye care professionals by a researcher at UM Health System found that 87 percent ask about glare, driving at night and reading signs, but only 8 percent asked about challenging driving situations, such as merging or backing up, or the patient’s driving record. And only 8 percent would relay concerns about patients’ ability to drive to their primary care physician or refer them to driving rehabilitation specialists or a driving school.

 

Eighty-one percent of those surveyed indicated they could use resources like driving assessment guidelines, clinical screening instruments and a patient self-evaluation tool for senior citizens, who have higher accident rates than younger drivers.

 

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