Older people with glaucoma drive at least as safely as, if not more safely than, older people who do not have glaucoma, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the College of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Investigators aimed to evaluate the association between glaucoma and motor vehicle collision (MVC) and driving avoidance in drivers 50 years or older. From three university-affiliated eye care practices, they divided patients into two groups: those with glaucoma and those without. They obtained demographic, clinical and driving characteristics by chart abstractions and patient surveys. Information regarding MVC involvement was obtained from police records.

Results showed that patients with glaucoma were less likely to be involved in collisions than patients without glaucoma. No difference was evident between the at-fault crash rates of the patients with glaucoma and those without.

Bear in mind that patients with glaucoma were significantly less likely to drive at night, in fog, in the rain, during rush hour, on highways and in traffic.

McGwin G Jr, Mays A, Joiner W, et al. Is glaucoma associated with motor vehicle collision involvement and driving avoidance? Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004;45(11):3934-9.