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667078 tn?1316000935

Driving

I am not even 47 and it looks like I may need to hand over my keys. I know it, my PCP knows it and and so does my husband. I do not live in a good place for alternative transportation. This is really hard.

Alex
23 Responses
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211940 tn?1267881266
Alex,

I know exactly how you feel.  I was just diagnosed last year, and the first two things my Neurologist told me, was no more baths and No more Driving!  I'm only 48, turn 49 later this year.

I'm blessed that my wife drives, so it's not an issue for me.

Mine was not caused by any vision problems, it was more due to cognitive troubles, etc.

So, please know you are not alone, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Take care and God bless,

-- Socrates
Helpful - 0
147426 tn?1317265632
You just can't get good help anymore!

Q
Helpful - 0
739070 tn?1338603402
Glad you still have a good sense of humor!

Ren
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
Polly has been driving but she is real bad when she sees a cat or a squirrel.
Helpful - 0
1140169 tn?1370185076
My dr ordered no driving when my issues first appeared in Feb 2009 due to cog issues, uncoordination, left hand weakness, etc., even though i had no dx.

A few months ago i talked him into letting me drive, but it's short distance only, and only when i feel OK and not too tired, self policed (cant think of the right word) and he specified not for work (my job requires driving about 1000 kms per week)

My wife does all the driving, and i help out by yelling and covering my head when it looks like we're about to die...LOL

There's no public transit where i live, so if it wasn't for my wife i'd be in trouble. My GP is 30 kms away and my neuro is almost 500 kms away.

I saw my dr since i have been dx'ed and he still doesn't want to lift my driving restrictions. I'm ok with that because i seem to make poor decisions when behind the wheel, and i don't want to hurt anybody.

Mike

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
wow HVAC, sorry to hear of it. i hope you can prolong it as much as possible and keep a bit of that freedom, though your health comes first. best wishes
Helpful - 0
704043 tn?1298056844
yeh  try  patching that  eye it  will throw you off  on going down stairs - my sister only has one eye  and she has  trouble with depth perception
    but she  still  drives   if  you  throw something  to  her  she cant  catch it  

cant  tell  exactly  where  things  are-  and  i dont think  she drives  at  night-

  let me know if  it  helps  you!!     tick
Helpful - 0
1194772 tn?1309578232
I am so sorry that you may not be able to drive. That is a huge independence issue and I will keep you in prayers. Sounds like there may still be some options, don't give in yet. Take care
Amers
Helpful - 0
1218873 tn?1300091216
Yes, this is what I was thinking. An eye patch. I remember when I was learning to drive there was an instructor that wore a patch. Just a thought.
Helpful - 0
635835 tn?1272539383
I drove with my eye patched for a while and it really helped me.  It takes some getting used to because it changes your depth perception, but maybe it's worth a try.  

I also had pretty good results with some vision therapy to make my weak eye work a little better.  

I'm so sorry - I hope you find a safe way to keep driving.  
Helpful - 0
645390 tn?1338555377
In OHIO you only need one eye to pass a drivers test. Although it has to be 20/30 or better for an unrestricted license and if it is 20/60 , you would pass for a daytime only license. 20/70 and beyond for a one eye person would not allow you to get a drivers license.

I would suggest patching your poorer seeing eye, or the eye you don't prefer, and give that a try. (For example, if it is your right eye that always turns out, them that would be the eye to patch).

It would immediately take away the double vision. I would do this at home before you attempt to drive and "get comfortable" to being monocular.  If you don't like the patch "look", you can also get some see through contact paper, and line the inside of your non-preferred lens. (This is assuming you have glasses.) The contact paper is sticky on one side, and it blurs your vision enough so that you wouldn't have double vision.

If you always have double vision with both eyes open, you shouldn't have any trouble with the patch.  Actually patching an eye would be a huge relief to you. If u r used to using both eyes without double vision, this would be hard, as patching an eye would also eliminate your depth perception.

Sorry this is so long, I feel like I am writing a book here...LOL

This is a link to the vision tests from the DMV in all the states. They all have their own rules.

http://www.mdsupport.org/library/drivingrequirements.html

Quix mentioned a low vision specialist, which is an excellent idea as well. Although if the "only" visual reason you have is double vision, and not poor vision, the patch really is the best and cheapest way to go.  Pediatric or Neuro Ophthalmologists  can operate for your eye turn, if the turn is too large for prisms to help. That will most likely fix the double vision, and insurance covers it, IF you have insurance.

I don't know if you have insurance coverage, if you do, I would check out the surgery route, or prisms perhaps. (prisms can help if the eye turn isnt too large.)

PD, double vision due to an eye turn is always with 2 eyes, and will always go away if you patch an eye. If you have monocular double vision, the "usual" causes of this are , astigmatism, cataracts, retinal issues, etc.

Hope some of this helps,

Hugs to you Alex,

Michelle

Helpful - 0
751951 tn?1406632863
Q, it is possible to have double vision while seeing out of only one eye.  No matter which one of my eyes I close, I still see two images.  As I previously stated, the two images are not widely distinct from one another, it's just that I see the edge of everything twice.  If it's the edge of a car, I can deal with it.  If it's the edge of a capital "H", it gets a little more troubling.  What made no sense to me is that I don't see four images with both eyes open.  Eye doc says "It's not in your eyes; it's in your brain."  DUH!  Tell that to the neuros!
Helpful - 0
1218873 tn?1300091216
Sorry to hear this.

Do you still have double vision if you cover your right eye?
Helpful - 0
293157 tn?1285873439
Hi there, I understand how you feel, but I'm abit older then you.. my hubby and some Dr are wondering if I should drive anywhere,  I do on my good days ( very seldom) go on a short trip to the grocery store to pick up milk or something.  nothing far or for long.

I too have double vision, prism don't help me, but have you tried them.  Also, does double vision cause you eyes to move weirdly?  Mine seem to want to go in different directions and I have more nystigma lately.

My hubby says I dont have the coordination I used too have and my vision is making me react too soon or too fast..??  

I'm just not comfortable driving any longer then a few blocks.. I try to about once a month.?

take care your not alone.. I know how you feel
wobbly
Helpful - 0
738075 tn?1330575844
Ohhh, Alex,

So sorry to learn this... for me, driving is still my ultimate ticket to freedom and independence.  I LOVE all the suggestions, here in this thread.

I live out in the middle of nowhere in the mountains.  I have the luxury of a free thinking hubby and great neighbors who would take me anywhere I want to go.  But there's still that delicious alone-ness of driving by yourself...tunes playing...I still relish my me-time behind the wheel.  I know it will be hard if my time comes...

Gentle Hugs,
Guitar_grrrl
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm sorry your in this situation, i cant really drive anymore due to safety, though i'm not ready to accept its a never again situation. I have vision issues but not in the same category that your at, for me its more because of where i am in space and the inability to react, my lower limbs freeze and that means i cant brake when i really have too. Additionally to that my brain seems to keep going on holiday and then i cant seem to work out the little things, like where the key goes or which side of the boom gates (railway gates) your suppose to be when your waiting for the train to pass, not at all funny!!

About the eye turning, thats what happens to my youngest (12) he has to wear glasses which for the life of me i cant remember whats so special about them but anyway, it was explained to me by his ophthalmologist that his eyes dont converge to receive one image, they are independent of each other. When the brain is unable to process the two visual images, it shuts down the weakest eye which is why one eye turns out. He has double vision with out his glasses (blind as a bat), his brain receives 2 different visual images which his brain cant compensated for very long, it self protects and shuts down his eye so that his brain can only receive one image and be less blind.

If you havent already checked with your optometrist or ophthalmologist lately, i would see if there is anything that can be done, you never know there might be some adjusting that will help. I hope there is something available!!

Cheers.........JJ

I do sympathise though have no trick to help you keep driving, wish i did!!!
Helpful - 0
147426 tn?1317265632
I wonder if you should look into advice from the agencies that work with the blind and low vision.  It's just a thought, but could you drive with one eye patched?  You can't have double vision with only one eye seeing.  Maybe that's silly, but it is a thought.

I know that there are ways you can get around not seeing out of one eye, like with the use of larger mirrors.

When the driving tester saw that I could not turn to look over my shoulder because I have to have my right hand securely on the wheel and the left hand securely on the accelerator/brake he suggested that I be restricted to cars that only have dual outside side mirrors.  I was and this has made things much better for me.  I also have a steering nob for one-handed turning.  I realize none of those help you at all, but there is a world out there which has seen about every problem in the world and tried to solve it.

I would look to visual mobility experts and see.

I was unable to drive much of last year.  We (my parents and I) were lucky because my sister acts as our fulltime housewife, but being dependent on her to leave the house was awful.

I want to commiserate and am trying to think of any possible solution.

(((((((HUGS)))))))

Quix
Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740
     Loosing a drivers License is like taking a very big
part of your independance away!  It's bad enough that
we have to (at times) depend or need someones help with
household chores or dinner or even perhaps a ride now and
then to an appt because of this monster...But to loose ones
License has got to be  hard.

   I am sorry to hear this news. I certainly have you in thought
and prayer.

Take Care,
~Tonya
Helpful - 0
751951 tn?1406632863
My lens prism has helped a lot with the double vision, I think.  At least I feel as if it has.  Mine's been more a near-vision issue, though.  Highway images aren't doubled badly enough to confuse me.  My double imnages aren't offset that much, so I often see only one object, but it has double edges all the way around.

Michelleric was very helpful to me with this; she obviously knows more about it than I was able to learn elsewhere.

Sorry to hear you're having this problem, Alex.  We will pray it doesn't come to that, but I'd have faith in your judgment.

Speaking of judgment, that's the part I worry about with myself.  Cutting things too close, forgetting to look both ways, etc.  I can see well enough when I remember where to look.

Kinda wanna ask if Polly could take a driving test, though. ;>D
Helpful - 0
572651 tn?1530999357
Alex,

I am so sorry to hear this latest news.  I don't suppose you could teach Polly one more trick and give her the keys to drive?  :-)

Seriously, unless we live in a very large city, like NYC, Boston or Chicago, the transportation options are so limited.  In my area we don't even have an efficient taxi service available.  Without being able to drive, I would be pretty much housebound and dependent on others.  I have thought about this often.  

Is there anything that  can be done for the vision correction like Ren suggested? I wouldn't hand over those keys just yet until you have exhausted all possibilities.

lots of hugs to you,
Lulu

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739070 tn?1338603402
I am so sorry to hear about the increase in double vision. I seldom drive anymore , although I've got 5 years on you. It's tough to give up the keys. Mine is vertigo/dizziness from moving my head to the left. Now, as of this week, the strength in my legs makes it unsafe to drive.

I'm also in the same boat about lack of public transportation. The issue is isolation. Do you have friends you can count on to help you get where you need to go? This helps and at first it was hard to "impose" on my friends but many, who didn't know what to say or do about my dx, have said it makes them feel good to help me out.

As for the double vision, can you not have something made into your eyeglasses to help? Michelle might be the one to ask about this as this is her work specialty.

Again, I know how awful this is. It is debilitating both physically and mentally to have this privilege taken away. No one in my family wants to ride with me if I'm driving. They all "volunteer" to drive. I'm sorry you are faced with this development!

Sending comforting thoughts and hugs,
Ren

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667078 tn?1316000935
Mine is the double vision I have had since childhood getting worse. The right eye is rolling way out.

Alex
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yikes, Alex. Why is this becoming necessary?

There are a lot of elderly people in my neighborhood, and they fight tooth and nail not to give up driving. I can understand that, because we value our independence so much, yet for most of these folks it's way overdue when they finally stop. They are truly a hazard.

For a 46-year-old this must be really awful. Is it vision problems, problems processing what you need to do when making quick decisions, vertigo, something else?

Maybe others here will have some suggestions.

ess
Helpful - 0
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