Nystagmus and driving

[Magnulus]

Could somebody give me some advice on vision problems and driving?

I want to know how I go about finding out if I should be driving. I
have a learner's permit from Oklahoma. I live in Florida currently and I
don't drive, at age 28. I know how to drive and I have alot of practice,
but I don't feel comfortable driving, in particular I have had a few "near
accidents" and I always feel nervous driving. I don't know what my visual
acuity is, but it is far from perfect 20/20. I have congenital nystagmus,
caused by hypoplastic optic nerves, with a null point, myopia, and
strabismus, and my left eye is worse than my right eye at distance. I also
don't always have constant binocular vision, in fact most of the time I
don't (but I don't have amblyopia). An eye doctor has never told me what
my vision is. I believe my glasses are around 5-7 diopters.

I did not take Drivers Ed in highschool because I was in a special PE
class for disabled students. In college (I have a 2 year degree) in
Oklahoma I took driving lessons, and one of my instructors said he was not
sure I should be driving. He was very uncomfortable with my driving,
especially on longer lessons. I really feel fatigued if I drive any longer
than 12 minutes without a break. My eyes/head feel really fatigued and I
feel like I start to loose concentration.

[g***@agora.it]

But what more proofs do you need to understand that the OD you are
referring to know nothing about eyes and vision???
You have to search for yourself the truth!

[Dr Judy]

Post by Magnulus
Could somebody give me some advice on vision problems and driving?
I want to know how I go about finding out if I should be driving. I
have a learner's permit from Oklahoma. I live in Florida currently and I
don't drive, at age 28.

How long is a learner's permit valid? It may not be legal to use out of
state. If you want to know if you meet the Florida state vision
requirements, go to a driving license application centre and take whatever
eye test they offer. They should be able to tell you if you pass.

I know how to drive and I have alot of practice,

Post by Magnulus
but I don't feel comfortable driving, in particular I have had a few "near
accidents" and I always feel nervous driving. I don't know what my visual
acuity is, but it is far from perfect 20/20. I have congenital nystagmus,
caused by hypoplastic optic nerves, with a null point, myopia, and
strabismus, and my left eye is worse than my right eye at distance. I also
don't always have constant binocular vision, in fact most of the time I
don't (but I don't have amblyopia). An eye doctor has never told me what
my vision is. I believe my glasses are around 5-7 diopters.
I did not take Drivers Ed in highschool because I was in a special PE
class for disabled students. In college (I have a 2 year degree) in
Oklahoma I took driving lessons, and one of my instructors said he was not
sure I should be driving. He was very uncomfortable with my driving,
especially on longer lessons. I really feel fatigued if I drive any longer
than 12 minutes without a break. My eyes/head feel really fatigued and I
feel like I start to loose concentration.

Well, I think you answered your own question. If you don't feel safe or
comfortable driving, you shouldn't drive.

Dr Judy

[Ken]

There are several issues to resolve here.

First, is a learners permit fro Oklahoma valid in Florida. I would guess not
and that you will need to apply for a FL permit. This means you will have to
meet FL's vision requirements. Or get a doctor's waiver if that is possible.

Second is the philisophical "should you drive". You need to distinguish
between your fear of driving and your genuine ability to drive. Most people
get their DL when they are young and clueless. They have no fear of driving.
By the time they begin to figure out that this dirving stuff is a huge
responsibility, they have the experience to be more relaxed at it. You
skipped the "young and clueless" phase where you can get the experience
without understanding the responsibility. Many a teenager has many "near
misses" (and a few direct hits :)). They shrug it off and keep going.
Hopefully, they learned something along the way. You may not be any
different than them, you just set higher standards. You need to account for
both your bad eyes and your lack of experience. I have nystagmus and find
that I must adapt to how tired I am and how comfortable I am with where I am
driving. It does limit me more than a "normal" driver. But it doesn't stop
me.

HOWEVER, it is also possible that you just cannot see well enough to drive.
I worked with my opthamologist to understand where I fit into the fear vs.
ability balance. She cautioned me against driving at night and driving when
I am tired. But then she said that the eyes don't stop me. I am doing fine.
I would suggest that you find an eye doctor that you trust and get their
opinion and help. This will also help you get past the fear factor.

Post by Magnulus
Could somebody give me some advice on vision problems and driving?
I want to know how I go about finding out if I should be driving. I
have a learner's permit from Oklahoma. I live in Florida currently and I
don't drive, at age 28. I know how to drive and I have alot of practice,
but I don't feel comfortable driving, in particular I have had a few "near
accidents" and I always feel nervous driving. I don't know what my visual
acuity is, but it is far from perfect 20/20. I have congenital nystagmus,
caused by hypoplastic optic nerves, with a null point, myopia, and
strabismus, and my left eye is worse than my right eye at distance. I also
don't always have constant binocular vision, in fact most of the time I
don't (but I don't have amblyopia). An eye doctor has never told me what
my vision is. I believe my glasses are around 5-7 diopters.
I did not take Drivers Ed in highschool because I was in a special PE
class for disabled students. In college (I have a 2 year degree) in
Oklahoma I took driving lessons, and one of my instructors said he was not
sure I should be driving. He was very uncomfortable with my driving,
especially on longer lessons. I really feel fatigued if I drive any longer
than 12 minutes without a break. My eyes/head feel really fatigued and I
feel like I start to loose concentration.

[Neil Brooks]

I really feel fatigued if I drive any longer than 12 minutes without a
break. My eyes/head feel really fatigued and I feel like I start to
loose concentration.

I'm focused on this statement by the OP.

Mr/Ms. Magnulus: what you've said here sounds an awful lot to me like the
answer: you're reasonably competent to drive for 12 minutes at a time. Any
longer and you're dangerous.

Unless medical strides can be made that can extend this 12 minute driving
interval, it seems abundantly clear to me that you place yourself at risk
(your choice, I would argue), but that you also endanger the lives of others
(absolutely /not/ your choice, I would argue) if you drive beyond this 12
minute interval when you are fatigued and unable to concentrate.

Best of luck to you . . . and please be careful.

[Magnulus]

Thanks for the advice.

I printed out a Snellen eye chart and I used an eye patch with glasses.
Individually, my left eye is 20/70 or worse, and my right eye is around
20/50, with correction. And this is the best head position for the null
point. For both eyes together, it's hard to tell. I'm guessing it's at
least no better than my best eye, and most likely worse (at least it seems
to be). Binocular vision is hard for me to constantly mantain. I don't
know if one of my eyes is genuinely weaker than the other due to the optic
nerve hypoplasia (thus causing the nystagmus), or simply a bad fitting of a
perscription. Which do you think is more likely?

[Magnulus]

I used a chart with a sans-serif font and I got about 20/60 in both eyes
together, though the right eye can see a bit more of the 20/40 line, but not
all of it. For the left eye 20/60 is readable but just barely.

I am going to go in for a vision test tomorrow. I'll have to walk a mile
or so, ride a bus, then get a taxi to come home, perhaps. It's one of
those "one-hour opticals", but the optometrist that works there is fairly
good. OTOH, I have gone to "low vision specialists" that I felt did very
little for me. I'm not going to accept any BS though, if he cannot really
do anything for my perscription, I'm not going to take any new glasses, and
I also want a straight up answer as to wheather he thinks I can see well
enough to drive.

I ought to test my eyes in positions other than the null point- if most
of it is very poor, I probably shouldn't be driving as being able to see
alot without having to turn the head is important too.