A nine-month research study led by Joshua Ehrlich, M.D., M.P.H., the Paul R. Lichter Research Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, examined driving behavior among older adults with vision impairment. The study, titled “Driving status, avoidance, and visual impairment among older adults in the United States,” was published in the Journal of Transport & Health in June. In this work, Dr. Ehrlich, his postdoctoral fellow Shu Xu, Ph.D., and his team examined two types of visual impairment: distance visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, with the latter being less commonly tested but equally important. “Common age-related diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration can affect contrast sensitivity,” he explains. The researchers used pre-existing data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), jointly run by the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins, which collects information on over 7,000 older adults across the United States. “We developed a battery of vision tests that was introduced to NHATS in 2021, and the annual data are now accessible to the public.” The findings showed that, among older adults with vision impairment, 46 percent avoid night driving, 14 percent avoid driving alone, and 27 percent avoid highways. “While the study did not specifically examine how vision-related driving cessation affects different, we know that not being able to drive can significantly impact seniors’ independence in a car-dependent society,” notes Dr. Xu. “Alternative transportation options like Uber exist for seniors, but they are not always accessible to all people due to financial constraints.” While many older adults with vision impairment may discontinue driving by choice or with input from family, these decisions and their consequences highlight the importance of both clinical vigilance and the development of community infrastructure to support aging adults. “There is a growing need for supportive policy measures to develop age-friendly cities,” says Dr. Ehrlich. “In the United States, not having access to a car, or not being able to drive oneself, makes this age group more dependent. Simply put, it means that without assistance, you are not able to do the same things you could before you stopped driving.” Dr. Ehrlich emphasizes that vision loss in older adults should not be accepted as a normal part of aging. “If caught early, vision loss might be slowed, halted, or even reversed. Early detection is critical, so it is important to schedule regular eye exams to address treatable conditions,” he says.