Is Your Vision Affecting Your Driving?

When every light seems to wink at you on the highway, what should you do?

1. Contact traffic authorities for information.

2. Call in for a sick day.

3. See your local ophthalmologist.

All three can be important if you wish to live to drive another day. Weather and accidents can impact interconnected road and transit systems. You just may be the first to report an electrical problem. If a serious medical condition appears in your charts, you should also get yourself out of other drivers' way ASAP. In either event, your ophthalmologist may provide a critical key to improving your driving experience overall.

Especially on commutes, stress can produce symptoms that mimic other physical ailments. An eye exam can tell you if you're seeing stars, or if new traffic signals really glare and twinkle. People who wear glasses also need to keep those spectacles mirror-clean, and professional glass cleaners should be considered no extravagance. If you rub your eyes at intersections, your fingerprints may smudge glasses, too. Blank spots or blurs can track the unconscious movement of your hands on your panorama equipment.

An ophthalmologist will test not only what you see straight ahead but to the sides. If your vision is shrinking, you may be experiencing the first signs of glaucoma. See the AHAF home site (http://www.ahaf.org/ glaucoma/ about/glsymp.htm) for variations of this condition, along with treatment options. On the highway, being "blind-sided" can mean lack of awareness when other drivers attempt to pass or move into your lane. The National Eye Institute offers free guidelines for finding an Eye Care Professional right online (http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/ findprofessional.asp).

If your glasses are due for an update, reliable opticians can offer guidance about the best frames for your needs. "Granny" glasses may be cool among Ivy Leaguers, but aviator styles can almost literally open your eyes. The best style remains the one that causes no discomfort and imposes no limitations. If frames bend with wear, it can be important to seek regular check-ups for both glasses and eyes. Drivers can feel "cock-eyed" anyway after sitting in traffic. They don't need to impose this menace on themselves.

Glasses function as headsets with inset cameras. Adjust the lenses, sharpen the focus, and see if the landscape MOVES. If you're moving, you must know the distance between you and surrounding vehicles. Your life depends on negotiating open spaces and jammed access lanes. You must also be able to judge the speed of trucks approaching in your rear-view and side mirrors. Start off every trip with the best eyes you can buy, maintain, and keep seeing life coming at you from every direction. It will not get out of your way. You must see other drivers as clearly as they, hopefully, see you.