Citation

Bohensky M, Oxley J, Odell M, Charlton J, Williams T, Fildes BN. Proc. Australas. Road Safety Res. Policing Educ. Conf. 2007; 11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, copyright holder varies, Publisher Monash University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In Australia, the presence of a visual field deficit condition requires assessment by an optometrist or ophthalmologist before an individual can be considered fit-to-drive. However, there are currently limitations in the validity of tests and criteria used for assessing vision for safe driving. This paper examines the scope of the problem in one Australian jurisdiction by identifying the prevalence of visual field loss (VFL) amongst drivers referred for medical review and describing the current practices for managing their licence review. A random sample of medical review cases was extracted from the VicRoads Medical Review database to identify cases involving VFL conditions: glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hemianopia/quadrantanopia and retinitis pigmentosa. Data on demographic information, visual field loss conditions and the referral process were collected for all identified cases.