Eye movements and driving-related performance of older adults with visual impairment

Little is known about the impact of visual impairment on the road scanning behaviour of older drivers. This study examined the eye movement patterns of older drivers with simulated blur, as well as true glaucomatous visual impairment, while performing driving-related tasks, to assist in better understanding the mechanisms underlying the elevated crash rates of visually impaired older drivers. Visual impairment from either simulated blur or glaucoma resulted in reduced laboratory-based hazard detection and closed-road driving performance, with associated alterations in eye movements. Among those with glaucoma, some of these alterations were potentially compensatory, which may facilitate improved driving-related performance