[(Neuro-)ophthalmogical aspects of driving ability].

The requirements regarding visual functioning needed for driving ability are stipulated in Annex 6 of the German driving licence regulations: In case of a visual disorder an ophthalmological assessment is essential: It is of crucial importance for the examining ophthalmologist to exhaust all ocular-medical possibilities to enable the applicant to maintain or regain his driving permission. In the overwhelming majority of the cases this is eminently feasible.However, there is no way to attest driving ability in a patient suffering acute one-sided visual loss for a period of 3 months on the basis of legal recommendations. Concerning oculomotor disturbances, the expansion of the diplopic central visual field and the subjective restriction caused thereby are important: the central 20 degree area must be free of diplopia.According to the German driving license regulations, absolute homonymous visual field defects such as hemianopsia or quadrantic defects affecting the visual centre are incompatible with driving an automobile. Even training measures causing the patient to experience a sense of smooth orientation do nothing to mitigate this fact.Dealing with serious disturbances of visual function, as a matter of principle an ophthalmologist should provide an additional expertise before a positive decision on driving ability is made.