Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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At what point does a person call it quits for driving? (self.Blind)
submitted by blazblu82
I've been home for the past month waiting for blood to clear out in my only good eye. It's getting better, but the blood does hang down into central vision most of the day. When I can see around it, everything sharpens up, but still has a white cast to it.
Twice now, I've managed enough courage to drive my car slowly around my mobile home park. Today was second attempt and it went ok. Drove in broad daylight with sunglasses and a baseball cap. Even though the blood strands were floating in central vision, I felt ok driving. However, the one important thing I could not see is the instrument cluster. Car has a digital speedo with an analog tachometer. I could not read either one and they were within 3 feet of my face. If it were night time, I could see them fine. I haven't been out after dark enough to see how oncoming traffic lights bother my left eye.
When I saw my dr a couple weeks ago, left eye was 20/100. I know it's better than that now, just not sure how much better. Plus, I've got all this other stuff going on like black, red, green, blue and white random spots, bizarre rolling black blobs at lower left edge of vision, the white cast on everything, occasional flashes of light and the blind area just left and up of center caused by a coloboma.
I don't know what to do. I just bought this car a little over 3 months ago. Got 2 months of solid driving in before bleed happened and now it's been sitting for a month with very little use.
I hate what I'm going through...
Twice now, I've managed enough courage to drive my car slowly around my mobile home park. Today was second attempt and it went ok. Drove in broad daylight with sunglasses and a baseball cap. Even though the blood strands were floating in central vision, I felt ok driving. However, the one important thing I could not see is the instrument cluster. Car has a digital speedo with an analog tachometer. I could not read either one and they were within 3 feet of my face. If it were night time, I could see them fine. I haven't been out after dark enough to see how oncoming traffic lights bother my left eye.
When I saw my dr a couple weeks ago, left eye was 20/100. I know it's better than that now, just not sure how much better. Plus, I've got all this other stuff going on like black, red, green, blue and white random spots, bizarre rolling black blobs at lower left edge of vision, the white cast on everything, occasional flashes of light and the blind area just left and up of center caused by a coloboma.
I don't know what to do. I just bought this car a little over 3 months ago. Got 2 months of solid driving in before bleed happened and now it's been sitting for a month with very little use.
I hate what I'm going through...
505Griffon 8 points 1y ago
There are a few things to consider. (I don't drive anymore)
What are the laws in your state/province? For me it was less than a specific field of vision percentage. My vision history is in my medical records. Despite having auto insurance, if ''i were in an accident, I'd be liable. My insurance would look at my medical history and decline paying anything.
Besides not wanting to hurt myself, I don't want to hurt anyone else.
I still do ride my bike, but slowly.
What are the laws in your state/province? For me it was less than a specific field of vision percentage. My vision history is in my medical records. Despite having auto insurance, if ''i were in an accident, I'd be liable. My insurance would look at my medical history and decline paying anything.
Besides not wanting to hurt myself, I don't want to hurt anyone else.
I still do ride my bike, but slowly.
blazblu82 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Kansas is pretty lax on vision requirements. Basically anyone with better than 20/200 can drive. I think field of view is considered if 20 degrees or less is left.
I feel the same about the risk factor. The problem is getting other people (boss and coworkers) to understand that. They all think that I'll get better in time and all will be normal again which puts pressure on me thinking I have to drive or I'll lose my job.
I swear, feels like every decision I make is based on whether the decision lets me keep my job or not.
I feel the same about the risk factor. The problem is getting other people (boss and coworkers) to understand that. They all think that I'll get better in time and all will be normal again which puts pressure on me thinking I have to drive or I'll lose my job.
I swear, feels like every decision I make is based on whether the decision lets me keep my job or not.
Glomerulus 1 points 1y ago
Not sure where you saw 20/200 and 20 degree field for driving in Kansas. Those sound like the standard limits for legal blindness. Your state is 20/60 or better in the better seeing eye with 110 degree visual field.
blazblu82 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Yeah, realized that and said the same in another reply.
Thanks
Thanks
505Griffon 1 points 1y ago
Not sure of your distance between home and work but is public transportation available? For me there was no regular public transportation in my area so I qualified for a "special" run and reduced rates. I used it when my wife wasn't available. I also hired a driver to try it out for a week but preferred my wife despite her being too chatty.
If you think your vision won't be getting any better, check out your area's assistance for low vision and maintaining your job.
If you think your vision won't be getting any better, check out your area's assistance for low vision and maintaining your job.
blazblu82 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
No, public transit doesn't reach my area. They do offer transit for the disabled; however, it would be unreliable in getting to work on time and since I work second shift, Uber or taxi are my only options on getting home and I'm not spending $350+ a month on Uber or taxi. I say the transit service would be unreliable because despite scheduling a pickup time, it's at their discretion as to when they show up. And after pickup, I'm in line with everyone else and could be riding for a long time before getting to my job.
I live alone, so no one else to rely on. When I do go back to work, I should be able to ride with a coworker, but they are retiring in June or July, so I'll be back to figuring out my transportation options again. I know my employer isn't doing anything to help the situation.
It doesn't help things being stuck at home and all I think about is my situation. I've been home from work for a month now and still waiting for short term disability to kick in, so my funds are drying up unless they get some money to me in a short order.
I live alone, so no one else to rely on. When I do go back to work, I should be able to ride with a coworker, but they are retiring in June or July, so I'll be back to figuring out my transportation options again. I know my employer isn't doing anything to help the situation.
It doesn't help things being stuck at home and all I think about is my situation. I've been home from work for a month now and still waiting for short term disability to kick in, so my funds are drying up unless they get some money to me in a short order.
Lighthouse412 3 points 1y ago
I don't have a solution and I'm sorry for that. I just wanted to wish you luck. My father was a taxi driver. He went to a long overdue eye appointment. The doc did not allow him to drive home. At least our area had great public transportation. Good luck in your journey. Happy Holidays!
GTbuddha 1 points 1y ago
I quit driving 21.5 years ago. Eventually it got to scary and I knew I was going to not see something and hurt someone.
If you live in a mobile home park see if someone that lives there is on disability but they can drive. Offer to pay them in cash to drive you to work and pick you up. Win win.
If you live in a mobile home park see if someone that lives there is on disability but they can drive. Offer to pay them in cash to drive you to work and pick you up. Win win.
freakygreekbeak 1 points 1y ago
I’m visually impaired (bilateral aphakia, glaucoma, the works) and was able to learn to drive and could see relatively well when I was 16. Live in nebraska, and we need 20 40 in one eye to drive, which was exactly what I had at the time i took the test and passed.
Tricky thing is, my eyesight has steadily continued to decline over time. After a botched surgery on my right at age 17, i started having to rely solely on my left eye, which has severe astigmatism. by 18 I decided to stop driving at night, because I just knew it was time. I was straining too much and worried i’d miss something, especially cuz my job was in a pedestrian plaza and I got off super late.
At this point, i’m recovering after another surgery and just started driving again, but only feel comfortable doing so when my floaters are calm and in very particular conditions.
this was kind of a longwinded way of saying that you’ll know when you should stop - since kansas’ laws don’t offer much advice, just pay attention to your comfort and confidence that you’ll keep yourself safe and simultaneously not be a hazard to others on the road or pedestrians near by. If you know you’re comfortable driving in certain conditions and not others, adjust as needed. good luck, and stay safe
Tricky thing is, my eyesight has steadily continued to decline over time. After a botched surgery on my right at age 17, i started having to rely solely on my left eye, which has severe astigmatism. by 18 I decided to stop driving at night, because I just knew it was time. I was straining too much and worried i’d miss something, especially cuz my job was in a pedestrian plaza and I got off super late.
At this point, i’m recovering after another surgery and just started driving again, but only feel comfortable doing so when my floaters are calm and in very particular conditions.
this was kind of a longwinded way of saying that you’ll know when you should stop - since kansas’ laws don’t offer much advice, just pay attention to your comfort and confidence that you’ll keep yourself safe and simultaneously not be a hazard to others on the road or pedestrians near by. If you know you’re comfortable driving in certain conditions and not others, adjust as needed. good luck, and stay safe
blazblu82 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I dug around a little deeper and as long as I can see 20/60 or better in one and have between 140 to 110 degrees of view, I can drive. Last dr visit I was 20/100 in good eye. Should be better next time, just not sure how much better.
freakygreekbeak 2 points 1y ago
wishing you the best, good luck and good health
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