Naturalistic driving patterns of older adults before and after cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE

Cataract surgery can have many benefits for older adults, including enabling continued ability to drive. However, it is not known how objectively measured driving patterns change after cataract surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine how participants drove before and after cataract surgery.

DESIGN

Longitudinal study.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals from the Winnipeg site of Candrive (a longitudinal study of older drivers in Canada).

METHODS

An in-vehicle device monitored all trips taken in 1-second intervals, allowing for the analysis of distances driven, number of trips, time of trips, speeding, excessive braking/accelerating, and types of roadways.

RESULTS

Over the 4 years of data collection, there were 16 cases of participants having cataract surgery, whereby there was also suitable driving data for analyses. Participants drove 28% further after surgery (p = 0.022). They also drove further from home and more on primary roads (p < 0.05) and had fewer episodes of hard braking per distance travelled (p < 0.001). No other variables significantly changed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that older drivers changed some of their driving patterns after cataract surgery. Future studies could explore the effects of increased driving exposure, in conjunction with potentially safer driving behaviors, on overall driving safety after cataract surgery.