Compensatory viewing training improves practical fitness to drive of subjects with impaired vision

In many countries strict legal requirements for obtaining a driver's license are in effect for visual acuity and visual field. We studied the relationship between these characteristics and driving safety and driving proficiency in an on-the-road test of practical fitness to drive in subjects with visual disorders, including many subjects scoring below current criteria. We further studied how far the relationship between the on-the-road test and visual measures improved if compensatory eye movements and visual attention were included in the criteria. Lastly, we studied the effects of training compensatory viewing strategies. METHODS: In two studies subjects with visual field defects due to retinal pathology (n = 100) and post-chiasmal damage (n = 28) performed the on-the-road test before and after training. Training consisted of laboratory and mobility training, including driving instruction. Visual function assessment included acuity, visual field, contrast sensitivity, visual attention, compensatory view...