Is glaucoma associated with motor vehicle collision involvement and driving avoidance?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between the diagnosis of glaucoma and motor vehicle collision (MVC) involvement and driving avoidance in drivers aged > or =50 years.


METHODS
Two groups of patients, one with glaucoma and one without, were identified in three university-affiliated eye care practices. Demographic, clinical, and driving characteristics were obtained by chart abstractions and a patient survey. Information regarding MVC involvement was obtained from police records.


RESULTS
Patients with glaucoma were less likely (relative risk [RR], 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.97) to be involved in collisions than patients without glaucoma. There was no difference between the at-fault crash rates of the patients with glaucoma and those without (RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.67-2.22). Patients with glaucoma had significantly higher levels of avoidance for driving at night (odds ratio [OR], 2.06; 95% CI, 1.11-3.82), driving in fog (OR, 3.80; 95% CI, 1.93-7.48), driving in the rain (OR, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.32-6.76), driving during rush hour (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.16-4.34), driving on the highway (OR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.19-6.64), and high density driving (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.28-6.46). These associations were adjusted for demographic and medical characteristics as well as visual acuity.


CONCLUSIONS
Older persons with glaucoma drive at least as safely as, if not more safely than, older persons without glaucoma.
McGwin
Gerald
G
Department of Epidemiology and International Health, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-0009, USA. mcgwin@uab.edu
Mays
Andrew
A
Joiner
Wade
W
Decarlo
Dawn K
DK
McNeal
Sandre
S
Owsley
Cynthia
C
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety