title: Driving performance among bioptic telescope users with low vision two years after obtaining their driver's license: a quasi-experimental study.
abstract: This study sought to compare road safety of new drivers with low vision who have followed a specific pilot bioptic training program with other groups of drivers all matched for age and driving experience. A quasi-experimental design was used two years after drivers obtained their license. Drivers were classified in the experimental group (n = 10, they followed a pilot bioptic training program and had license restrictions: weight of the car, requirement of a yearly medical exams, requirement to wear glasses/contacts, use of a bioptic telescope), the comparison group (n = 17, similar license restrictions except the use of a bioptic telescope) and the regional population (n = 1,690, no license restriction). The number of new drivers involved in at least one accident and who committed at least one offense is not greater for users of a bioptic telescope than for drivers of in the other groups. The results of this study indicate that driving with a bioptic telescope does not increase the risk of accidents and offenses, with more scientific evidence than in previous studies, among drivers aged between 25 and 35 who have a congenital visual impairment and who have completed an eight-week pilot bioptic training program.
authors.affiliation: Laval University, Department of Rehabilitation, Pavilion Ferdinand Vandry, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. claude.vincent@rea.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lachance
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Deaudelin
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses; D008297:Male; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000151:congenital / Q000534:rehabilitation*