USA today article about driving anxiety and Binocular vision disorders (BVD).

According to a survey by TheZabra.com, 66% of Americans report experiencing driving anxiety. Yet, a critical factor in this anxiety—binocular vision disorders (BVD are often overlooked. As the number of people struggling with driving anxiety increases, it’s essential to explore how vision affects driving performance and how binocular vision disorders might be contributing to the anxiety many drivers face.

What is Driving Anxiety?

Driving anxiety involves feeling anxious when driving, preparing to drive, or even thinking about driving. In severe cases, it can trigger panic attacks, making it difficult or even unsafe for the individual to drive. While driving anxiety can stem from various psychological factors, binocular vision disorders may be a significant underlying cause that is often not addressed.

Vision’s Role in Driving

In the U.S., drivers are legally required to meet certain vision standards to qualify for a driver’s license. Most states require at least one eye to see 20/40 or better, with a visual field of at least 140 degrees in both eyes. However, these basic requirements are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to safe driving.

Driving is a complex visual task. When behind the wheel, our eyes constantly judge the distance between our vehicle and others, allowing us to make decisions like when to accelerate or brake. Vision is not just about “seeing” the road in front of you. It involves quickly shifting focus between objects at varying distances and maintaining an awareness of what’s happening in the peripheral field. This is where binocular vision and peripheral vision come into play.

If an individual’s binocular vision system is not functioning properly, it can lead to difficulty processing the distance between objects or focusing quickly enough on changing road conditions. This delay in visual processing can lead to feelings of uncertainty and increased anxiety when driving.

Binocular Vision Disorders (BVD) and Driving Anxiety

Binocular Vision Disorder (BVD) refers to issues with how the two eyes work together. A proper functioning binocular vision system is necessary for depth perception and the ability to judge distance accurately. When this system is compromised, it can lead to physical and mental fatigue, especially during prolonged driving sessions.

For individuals with BVD, the act of driving can become mentally exhausting. They might experience physical fatigue after even short trips. Parking in busy areas, such as city streets or crowded parking lots, can become particularly challenging due to difficulty in judging distances, resulting in accidents or near misses.

Additionally, individuals with BVD may experience a phenomenon often referred to as “supermarket vision syndrome.” This syndrome is characterized by difficulty processing visual information in crowded, busy environments, such as malls or supermarkets. The same issue can be translated to driving, where the presence of roadside trees, shadows, or other distractions causes anxiety and reduces the ability to focus on the road ahead.

How Vision Affects Stress and Peripheral Vision

As driving stress increases, peripheral vision can diminish, leading to a reduced ability to process surrounding information. This is especially dangerous on highways, where detecting hazards from the periphery is critical for safety. When an individual’s vision system is compromised, their ability to respond to changing conditions is slowed, which in turn increases their risk of an accident.

A malfunctioning visual system triggers the “fight or flight” response, further intensifying stress and impairing vision. This cyclical pattern can create a dangerous loop, where poor vision leads to higher anxiety, which further degrades the ability to process visual information.

Optometric Interventions for BVD and Driving Anxiety

Several optometric treatments can help individuals with binocular vision disorders regain control over their visual processing and reduce the anxiety that often accompanies driving. These treatments include:

1. Syntonics: This is a form of light therapy to balance autonomic nerve system and improve peripheral vision, which ultimately alleviate symptoms of visual stress, which can contribute to driving anxiety.
2. Lenses, Prisms or Tints: Specially prescribed to engage the connection among eye, brain and body, reducing visual strain.
3. Tape Prescriptions: Sometimes, optometrists use binasal occlusion therapy (taping one part of vision in both eyes) to help patients improve their visual processing by cutting noise in the vision and help brain more efficiently with the available visual input.
4. Vision Development/Rehabilitation Programs: For individuals with binocular vision disorders, vision therapy or vision rehabilitation can be an excellent option. These programs include specific exercises designed to improve eye coordination, depth perception, and eye tracking. By strengthening the visual system, these therapies help drivers feel more confident and reduce the anxiety associated with driving.

Our office is dedicated to diagnosing and treating binocular vision disorders. If you or someone you know struggles with driving anxiety, it’s essential to contact us. With proper diagnosis and treatment, including interventions like syntonics, prisms, special lenses, and vision rehabilitation programs, many of the difficulties experienced by anxious drivers can be alleviated. Improving visual function not only enhances driving confidence but can significantly reduce the stress and anxiety that many individuals face behind the wheel.

Sources:

• Vision and Highway Safety by Merrill Allen
• Focus Your Mind’s Eye by Dr. H.R. Dawkins and Dr. C. Forkiotis