New Study Links Glaucomatous Visual-Field Loss to Impaired Driving Performance and Higher Crash Risk
A new systematic review finds that patients with glaucomatous visual field (VF) defects are at significantly greater risk of impaired driving performance, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), and long-term driving cessation. The review, published in the November 2025 issue of Journal of Glaucoma, titled “The Effect of Glaucomatous Visual Field Defects on Driving: A Systematic Review,” analyzed 23 peer-reviewed studies published between 2003 and 2023.
Selected studies included a mix of driving-simulator experiments, on-road driving assessments, and real-world cohort analyses. Across the literature, glaucoma patients—especially those with moderate to severe VF loss or bilateral disease—consistently showed poorer driving outcomes compared to controls with normal vision.
Key Findings
Impaired driving performance: Glaucoma was associated with slower reaction times to hazards, reduced ability to maintain lane position, frequent steering and lane deviations, and greater difficulty driving in challenging conditions (e.g., low light, fog)
Higher risk of collisions: Several studies included in the review reported increased rates of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) among glaucoma patients. The risk appeared to correlate with the severity of VF loss
Driving cessation or self-regulation: Patients with more advanced VF loss—particularly in both eyes—were more likely to limit or stop driving altogether. Others adopted self-regulation strategies (e.g., avoiding night driving or bad weather)
Quality of Life and independence at stake: The authors note that loss of driving ability can erode patients’ independence, mobility, and overall quality of life—potentially contributing to social isolation and mental health burdens, especially in older adults
The authors stated that the findings highlight a crucial but sometimes underappreciated consequence of glaucomatous VF loss: its real-world impact on mobility and safety. While much of glaucoma care focuses on preserving central vision or slowing optic nerve damage, this review underlines the importance of peripheral visual function—especially for tasks like driving that depend on broad, reliable visual fields.
The researchers stated that more longitudinal, real-world studies are needed to quantify how different patterns of VF loss (e.g., central vs peripheral, unilateral vs bilateral) affect driving over time— nd whether interventions (e.g., vision rehabilitation) can mitigate these risks.
Reference
Toh ZH, Koh SYN, Yang WYL, et al. The Effect of Glaucomatous Visual Field Defects on Driving: A Systematic Review. Journal of Glaucoma. 2025;34(11):837–852. doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000002633.