Download Driving with Bioptic Telescopes

Driving with Bioptic
Telescopes
Independent Living
ViewFinder
Low Vision Resource Centers
The eye doctors at the ViewFinder Low Vision Resource Centers
specialize exclusively in Low Vision Rehabilitation. They have been
recognized as leaders in low vision rehabilitation not only in Arizona,
but throughout the United States.
Our doctors help their patients enhance their remaining vision with
special low vision eyeglasses and custom microscopic and telescopic
low vision aids. They provide the latest, state-of-the art technology
for our visually impaired patients. They also recommend other optical
and non-optical low vision aids as well as low vision services to
complete our patient’s total rehabilitation. With the help of our
doctors, occupational therapists and staff, our patients will learn how
to perform their daily tasks despite a visual impairment so that they
can enjoy life and remain independent.
To make an appointment for a low vision evaluation with one of our
doctors, please call either ViewFinder location.
Locations:
1830 South Alma School Road, Suite 131 • Mesa, Arizona 85210 •
480.924.8755
10001 West Bell Road, Suite 115 • Sun City, Arizona 85351 •
623.583.2800
Toll Free Number: 866.924.8755
www.ViewFinderLowVision.com
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Driving and Visual Impairment
The ability to drive is a privilege that many of us take for granted.
Driving affects our quality of life and is a means to exercise freedom
of mobility. The ability to drive gives people access to better jobs. It
lets visually impaired parents share more fully in their children’s lives
when they can attend school events. Driving also decreases the social
isolation many visually impaired adults feel when they cannot leave
their homes.
Arizona is one of 41 states that will grant a driver’s license to some
visually impaired people when they drive using a bioptic telescope.
Driving with a visual impairment while using bioptic telescopes is a
very personal decision and that decision should be made
collaboratively by the individual, the low vision eye specialist and the
motor vehicle department.
Vision is not the only factor that should be taken into consideration.
Cognitive ability, reaction time and use of good judgment are equally
important. Your eye doctor will discuss these and other issues during
your evaluation. Using information obtained from a functional low
vision evaluation you and your eye doctor will determine if you are a
candidate for the Bioptic Driving Program.
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What are Bioptic Telescopes?
Bioptic telescopes are miniature telescopes which are mounted into
ophthalmic corrective lenses, usually above the person’s line of sight.
The telescopes can be focusable or non-focusable and come in powers
from 1.7X – 8X. The focusable telescopes usually focus from infinity
to 12” making them useful for distance, intermediate and near tasks.
Our patients use the telescopes not only for driving but also for
seeing signs in the grocery store and airport, products on grocery
store shelves, watching television and for seeing their computer
monitor.
Parking lot viewed
Normally
Parking lot viewed with a 3X
Bioptic Telescope
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How are Bioptic Telescopes
Used for Driving?
Mounting the bioptic telescope into the lens in a pair of eyeglasses
allows the driver to use his regular prescription lenses as well as the
telescope gaining first an overall view and then very detailed view of
the road, traffic and signs up ahead. The Bioptic Telescopic System
allows a trained user the opportunity to detect objects or movement
within his/her driving scene using the wide field of view available
through the regular spectacle lens and to resolve fine details such as
road signs and traffic lights by glancing briefly and intermittently into
and out of the miniature telescope.
(See photo).
The bioptic driver’s use of the telescope can be likened to the
normally sighted driver’s use of rear and side mirrors. They are used
as spotting tools for one or two seconds at a time. The telescopes
come in a variety of sizes, styles and powers can be made in either
focusable or non–focusable versions. They can contain the person’s
eyeglass prescription and/or tints. The telescopes are focused at
distance while driving. Your eye doctor will help you determine the
best telescope for your needs.
Driving with a bioptic telescope requires extensive training in the
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general use of the telescope as well as behind-the-wheel driver’s
training. The bioptic telescope is a prescriptive device, prescribed by
either an optometrist or ophthalmologist specializing in low vision
rehabilitation.
If you are undecided as to whether you wish to pursue a
bioptic driver’s license and would like to work with a telescope
before making this decision, your eye doctor will have you
work with a telescope during your routine low vision
evaluation. We can even provide training with a hand held
telescope so that you can view distance objects at home and
while you are a passenger in a car. This may help you decide
if bioptic driving is for you.
Arizona Law Regarding the Use of
Bioptic Telescopes While Driving
 The driver must be able to meet the current Arizona Department of
Transportation visual acuity standards using no more than a 4X
bioptic telescope. The current visual acuity standards state that a
person will be granted a regular driver’s license with best corrected
visual acuity of 20/40 or better. A person shall be restricted to
daytime driving if they have a corrected visual acuity of 20/40 –
20/60. If a person cannot meet the acuity of 20/60, they will not
be able to obtain a driver’s license. An eye doctor must determine
the visual acuity of the driver and fill out an ADOT Driver’s Vision
Form.
 The driver must have a visual field of at least 70 degrees
temporally and 35 degrees nasally. Your eye doctor will determine
the extent of your visual field with a visual field test.
 The driver must pass the standard driving test with an Arizona
Department of Transportation driving instructor or our OT who
specializes in Driving Rehabilitaion. The driver must demonstrate
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that they can perform all regular driving tasks such as speed
control, merging, driving in traffic and effective use of mirrors.
 The driver must have an ADOT Driver’s Vision form filled out by
their eye doctor on an annual basis.
Candidates for Bioptic Driving
 Low vision individuals with visual acuity 20/200 or better.
 No peripheral field defects.
 Stable ocular conditions, usually congenital. Albinism, aniridia
and congenital nystagmus are examples.
 Some macular degeneration patients may be good candidates
depending on the stability of the disease and eccentric viewing
skills.
 Candidates must have the motor ability to scan a rapidly
changing environment.
 Candidates must have sensory ability to perceive information in
this rapidly changing environment.
 Candidates must have the attentiveness to process multiple
pieces of information.
 Candidates must have the cognitive ability to judge this
information in a timely fashion and to make appropriate
decisions.
 Candidates must have the motor ability to execute these
decisions in a timely fashion.
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ViewFinder
Bioptic Driving Program
Steps to Becoming a Bioptic Driver
Step # 1:
A Functional Low Vision Evaluation:
You will need a recent low vision examination performed by your low
vision eye doctor.
Your doctor will use the following tests to
determine if you are a candidate for bioptic driving:
1. Visual Acuity Test
2. Visual Field Test
The visual field test measures the total area in which
objects can be seen in the peripheral vision while the eye is
focused on a central point.
3. A dilated eye examination to rule out active pathology.
4. Contrast Sensitivity Test: A measurement of how well the
eye sees in conditions that are not black and white. A truer
measurement of how the eye sees in the real world.
5. Useful Field of View Test: The useful field of view (UFOV)
test has been developed to access an individual's ability to
process and react in a timely fashion to multiple visual events
occurring simultaneously. It defines the visual field within
which rapidly presented visual material can be used. The test
includes processing speed, selective attention, and divided
attention. Data shows that a reduction in the UFOV has been
associated with increased future crash involvement, whereas a
moderate reduction in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and
visual field were not.
Because the UFOV test relies on both visual sensory and
cognitive skills, it provides a more global measure of visual
functional status than either sensory or cognitive tests alone.
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It is a good predictor of driving performance for patients and it
is better than chronological age for identifying drivers at risk for
crashes.
Step #2:
Designing and fitting your Bioptic Telescope:
Bioptic telescopes are custom made for each patient and contain the
patient’s unique prescription in the ophthalmic lenses and, in some
cases, the telescope itself. Your eye doctor will determine the correct
telescope for you. Your telescope may take up to 4 weeks to obtain
from the manufacturer.
Step #3:
Training in the use of your Bioptic Telescope:
A bioptic telescope alone does not make a person a safe driver. All
potential drivers require extensive training in the use of their
telescope.
You will be evaluated and trained by ViewFinder’s
occupational therapist. The evaluation will include a Useful Field of
Vision test. The training will focus on the user’s ability to focus and
demonstrate movement in and out of the bioptic within one to two
seconds to spot distant targets. The goals are for the patient to be
able to use the device effectively while stationary ( i.e., sitting or
standing and spotting items across the room) and then while moving
(i.e., walking in the grocery store, spotting signs and recognizing
objects at a distance). Patients will also practice spotting targets while
a passenger in their car with a friend or family member driving. The
occupational therapist will instruct you through a series of exercises
designed to bring you to a skill level ready to pursue driving. When
you have demonstrated the ability to correctly use the bioptic
telescope, your eye doctor may then recommend that you receive a
Behind-the-Wheel Driver’s Evaluation before signing the vision form
for your Arizona Driver’s license. Remember: Even if you hold a
current license, you are not legal to drive with the bioptic telescope
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until you have passed the Arizona Motor Vehicle’s Road Test.
Step # 4:
Driver Evaluation while Using the Bioptic Telescope:
While Arizona does not require Behind-the-Wheel Training for
potential bioptic drivers, your eye doctor may refer you to a driving
rehabilitation program, especially if you have not driven in a period of
time. Many lighting, glare and road conditions influence the ability of
the low vision driver’s performance. A driving evaluation and training
program will help prepare you for the Arizona Department of
Transportation road test and increase your safety and confidence
behind the wheel. The evaluation will be in two parts: the first part
will be as a front seat passenger while the driving rehabilitation
specialist drives. The patient will demonstrate their skills in spotting
road signs and hazards. The second part will have the patient behind
the wheel driving to demonstrate their skill using the Bioptic. The
Driving Rehabilitation Specialist will make suggestions to help the
patient with their driving skills and develop a training program to help
the patient meet the Motor Vehicle department’s criteria to pass the
drivers test while using the bioptic telescope.
Patients who have never driven before will automatically be referred
the Driving Rehabilitation program for driver’s training. You will be
instructed in all aspects of driving to enable you to pass your on-theroad driving examination.
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