BOSTON Losing ones driving privileges often means losing ones independence. No wonder so many people with impaired vision dread the eye exam at the local motor vehicles registry. But a new book by a researcher at The Schepens Eye Research Institute aims to help people with impaired vision drive safely and as long as possible.
The book, "Driving with Confidence: A Practical Guide to Driving with Low Vision," (World Scientific, February 2002, $28 hardcover, $18 paperback) provides essential information to help people stay on the road for as long and as safely and legally possible.
The book is authored by low-vision expert Eli Peli, O.D., senior scientist at The Schepens and associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, with his brother, Doron Peli, a freelance writer.
"The idea is to provide information to patients who are concerned about losing their legal right to drive. The book addresses whether and when they should stop driving, and what they can do to retain their right to drive for as long as possible, or even regain it if they have lost the right to drive on the basis of an eye test at their local Department of Motor Vehicles," Dr. Peli says.
The book combines useful information on Department of Motor Vehicle vision regulations in every state (the regulations vary widely), as well as a thorough explanation of equipment and low vision devices that can help a person retain the right to drive. The book also explains the partial restrictions offered by Departments of Motor Vehicle (such as limiting a driver to day-time driving, or allowing a driver with limited vision to drive within a certain familiar radius from home).
"The number of visually impaired people in the United States is about three million, of which probably about one million are so severely impaired that they cant and shouldnt drive. But of the
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Contact: Larry Bernard
bernard@vision.eri.harvard.edu
617-912-2548
Schepens Eye Research Institute
20-Feb-2002