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Impressum
The driving habits of patients with retinal diseases. Aspects of different legal requirements for the driving licences in EU-member countries.
Emesz M., Schneider R., Hitzl W., Grabner G.
Landesklinik für Augenheilkunde und Optometrie, St.Johanns Spital, Landeskliniken Salzburg, Österreich
The aim of the study was to evaluate the driving habits of patients with
diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration, who were referred
to the outpatient retinal service of the Landesaugenklinik Salzburg. The
main purpose of this study was the comparison of different legal requirements,
regarding the visual acuity for driving motor vehicles, as currently applied
in Austria and in different EU-member countries,
Methods: In this study, 200 patients - holders of a valid driving
licence - with diabetic retinopathy or age related macular degeneration
were enrolled. From each patient, the visual acuity (corrected or uncorrected,
depending on the driving habit) was recorded and a detailed questionaire
was requested from the patient in order to gain information about the
actual driving habits. The given data were analyzed regarding the legal
requirements of Austria and different EU-member countries.
Results: A total of 70% of the 200 patients with a valid driving
licence were still driving, 50% of these with a legally insufficient visual
acuity. According to the study, there are estimated 35 000 patients with
diabetic retinopathy still driving their cars illegally in Austria. As
there are differences in legal requirements, the amount of patients driving
and not fulfilling the visual minima is different in the countries of
Europe. The average age of illegal drivers was 66.2 years, 60% of these
patients stated that they had never been informed about this by their
ophthalmic practitioner.
Conclusion: Uniform legal requirements for driving a motor vehicle
(concerning visual acuity) and a legal mandatory eye exam by qualified
ophthalmologists should be requested for older subjects to achieve a standardization
within the European Community. Individual and age related time limits
of the driving licence for persons suffering from systemical diseases,
such as diabetes have to be discussed. Ophthalmologists should be obliged
to reliably inform each patient with "unlawful" vision.