Does IOL choice impact on Driving Performance?
Summary
Purpose
Does the IOL implanted at cataract surgery affects the driving habits and crash risk of patients.
Methods
Retrospective analysis of patients who met the visual requirements for a drivers license and had bilateral implantation of the same lens. The patients had at least 2 years of follow-up. Two groups of patients were identified; each with one of two types of acrylic IOLs. Both groups were given the Driving Habits Questionnaire, by a single investigator.
Results
90 patients participated; 51 had acrylic IOL type A and 39 had acrylic IOL type B. The demographics were similar for age, sex, diabetes, glaucoma and IOL power implanted. Group A was more likely to have road traffic accidents (P = 0.066) and less likely to drive at the same speed or faster than general flow of traffic (P = 0.094). Group A to be less likely to have travelled beyond their immediate neighbourhood, to be less likely to rate their quality of driving at average or above and to be more likely to have difficulty driving at night; but this did not reach significance.
Conclusions
At 2 years postoperatively, the choice of IOL implanted at the time of cataract surgery may have an impact on driving habit and crash risk.
