According to statistics, 33% of drivers who are unable to pass an eye test have no idea that their vision is in trouble. Researchers have found that most drivers do not keep up with the changes in their eyes, and experts note that this can be significant hazard on the roads. Eye health is not just about your comfort and about your general well-being — it is an essential component to road safety as well. Poor vision can affect your ability to read road signs and can even influence how quickly you are able to respond to hazards on the road. Some eye disorders can even make it difficult for you to see at night.

If you drive a car, regular eye exams are essential. Not only do these exams ensure that you are safe behind the wheel and have the appropriate lenses and contact lenses for your eye condition, but regular tests can help you detect and treat some serious eye problems, such as cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Regular eye exams can also help prevent serious car accidents that lead to burn injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and other personal injuries.

If you are a driver with relatively good eyesight, you should have an eye exam every two years at minimum. If you wear contacts or glasses, get an eye exam once a year in order to ensure that your vision has not changed. In many cases, vision may change without you becoming aware of it. You may notice some headaches or you may have no symptoms at all that your eyesight has changed enough to make you dangerous behind the wheel.

Keep in mind, too, that not taking care of your eyes if you are driver can have legal consequences. Authorities can pull you over if they think that your eyesight is affecting your ability to drive. If you have been prescribed glasses or contact lenses for vision correction, laws prescribe that you must always wear your corrective lenses when you are driving. If you drive without these corrective lenses, you could face charges and penalties. Legally, you must be able to read a license plate from 20.5 m in good light. If you cannot do this, you may be breaking the law and this can affect your insurance as well as your driving privileges. If you’re in a car accident that causes personal injuries and are found to be driving without prescribed corrective lenses, you could face additional penalties and charges as well.

Good vision is especially a concern for elderly drivers. Drivers who are 50 years of age or older are more at risk for certain eye problems — such as cataracts — and often find that they have more trouble dealing with glare. Drivers who are elderly may need to have eye tests or eye exams conducted once a year. They may also want to wear sunglasses in order to avoid glare.

However, even young drivers need to worry about their eyesight. Farsightedness nearsightedness can occur at any age and can affect drivers. All drivers, for example, need to worry about glare and blinding sunlight during the day. Sunglasses are a good idea for every driver.