Oberstein SL, Boon MY, Chu BS, Wood JM Background: Eye-care practitioners are often required to make recommendations regarding their patients' visual fitness for driving, including patients with visual impairment. This study aimed to understand the perspectives and management strategies adopted by optometrists regarding driving for their patients with central visual impairment. Method: Optometrists were invited to participate in an online survey (from April to June 2012). Ite

By Dr Eli Peli This articles discusses low vision driving using a bioptic telescope. The author introduces the subject be reinforcing 'Driving is a privilege not a right'. Discussing the USA context talks to the impact of inability to obtain a licence, such as "...social isolation, economic difficulties, and limits access to healthcare and other services... increase depression amongst the elderly... younger people loss or inability to gain driving privileges limits job opport

Bioptic Driving Movie by Low Vision Centers of Indiana In March 1971, California licensed the first bioptic driver. ​Produced by the Low Vision Centers of Indiana , this movie explains the steps in becoming a bioptic driver, who is a good candidate and the training to become licensed. Animations explain how the bioptic is used. The movie is an ideal starting point for someone interested in bioptic driving. It features Dr. Laura K Windsor, patients of the Low Vision Centers of

Robert Chun, Maria Cucuras, Walter.M Jay In this review, the authors discuss the current perspectives of spectacle-mounted telescopes (bioptics) used for driving among patients with vision impairments. The history, design, driving laws surrounding bioptic use, and developing programs in The Netherlands and Canada are discussed. Patients who have certain visual requirements and stable disease status may be eligible candidates to consider using a bioptic aid for driving. Given

Kooijman AC1, Melis-Dankers BJ, Peli E, Brouwer WH, Pijnakker P, Van Delden G, Van Pluuren E, Van Iddekinge B, Derksen P, Busscher RB, Bredewoud RA, Van Rosmalen JH, Postema FJ, Wanders I, De Vries J and Witvliet JM In many states of the U.S.A., people with moderately reduced visual acuity e.g., 20/50 - 20/200) can legally drive with the aid of a small, spectacle-mounted ("bioptic") telescope. In this paper, we describe the framework of the project from conception through to

Driving for nearly 40 years, I held a full unrestricted licence until 2019 when I had to get my licence renewed and this was the first time I was unable to pass the eye test at the registry. I came across Bioptics when researching driving aids. With a report from my ophthalmologist I was able to renew my licence but with a restriction on driving within a set distance from my home in Sydney. https://9f2a1e5e-9bc8-4e50-941e-454e15132abe.filesusr.com/ugd/decb6d_5f968a27693c403db

My journey started in 2014 when I found out about bioptic driving from a Facebook group with my eye sight condition. I then found Dr Sharon Oberstein. By this time I already had my bioptic and other adaptive eye sight tools for driving for over one year - she just needed to show me how to use it to drive. Driving is a privilege and I pinch myself everyday that I and others have this wonderful opportunity. http://australianbiopticdriver.blogspot.com/

Robert Eaves in South Australia was assisted by Williams Occupational Therapy. Click on Read More to read Rob's story. In this video we see Rob receiving instruction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l2wy0nnC8E https://9f2a1e5e-9bc8-4e50-941e-454e15132abe.filesusr.com/ugd/decb6d_11d8fdebc3b54be89f61773f88585c5e.pdf

Tommy Roberts of New Zealand gets his drivers licence with bioptics at age 25. Please see article at this link and video of Tommy's story: Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/inspire-me/95214850/man-who-was-nearly-blind-as-a-baby-gets-licence-at-25

I began losing my vision in 1991 due to ocular histoplasmosis. I went through several procedures, including experimental drug treatments and sub-retinal surgery. My doctor came in and told me there was nothing else that could be done to improve my vision. I asked, “Where do I go from here?” http://www.biopticdrivingusa.com/sharon-d-bioptic-story/ Source: www.biopticdrivingusa.com

If you are reading this message, you are not blind! You might be legally blind, but that's not the same thing. You can do something and the Ocutech is a very important tool. When my folks needed help with everything elders need, the Ocutech made it possible for me to help them. The Ocutech allowed me to keep working and now to help others. I hope it can help you too. http://www.biopticdrivingusa.com/ron-k-bioptc-story/ Source: www.biopticdrivingusa.com

Through Dr. Windsor, Vocational Rehab, and Crossroads Rehabilitation, I completed the bioptic driving training. I was a timid driver when my vision was 20/20 and I am still a timid driver. I tell people that you will never see me on the interstate—I can’t see that fast. You will see me on the streets of Lafayette. I can now go to the grocery by myself!! I can now meet a friend for lunch by myself!! I can now take myself to work and home again. . . by myself!! http://www.

At the age of seven I was diagnosed with Bests disease. We knew my mother had the same disease; she had been legally blind from her teenage years and had to quit school after the seventh grade. The retinal specialist referred me to the Low Vision Center in Ft. Wayne. Doctor Laura Windsor introduced me to CCTV and other low vision aids. She also helped me enter into the bioptic driving program. After not driving for about a full year I regained an Indiana driver’s license and

Currently in Australia, there is no national policy on the use of bioptics for driving. There is evidence that people have been using biopics to drive in Australia since at least the 1980s. In 2012, a paragraph about bioptic driving was introduced into the national legislation Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines. Owned jointly by the National Transport Commission (NTC) and Austroads, each state and territory licensing authority refers to these guidelines in their respective

Watch a replay AEST 9am, 18 February 2026 and click here to view the presentation. https://www.youtube.com/@exceptionaleducators ​ An International View and Advanced Teaching Skills for the COMS in the Bioptic Driving Framework and How Technology Such as ADAS Supports Drivers Presented by: Belinda O'Connor and Chuck Huss

Watch a replay AEST 9am, 18 February 2026 and click here to view the presentation. https://www.youtube.com/@exceptionaleducators ​ An International View and Advanced Teaching Skills for the COMS in the Bioptic Driving Framework and How Technology Such as ADAS Supports Drivers Presented by: Belinda O'Connor and Chuck Huss

Picture 1: driving on freeway Picture 2: sculpture of cycling clogs Picture 4: crossing showing car, pedestrian and bike lanes Picture 5: moped on cycle path and walk path next to it both separated by tree lined refuge then car lane Picture 5 shows shared streets Picture 6 shows shared streets. Bioptic driving in The Netherlands and the European Union became legal and commenced practiced in 2009. The Netherlands is the only EU country with a formalised bioptic driving program

Main photo Dr Jing Xu, small photo on bottom right Belinda O’Connor I came across Dr Xu’s work through The Eye, The Brain, The Auto “10th World Research Congress on Vision and Driving and the Impact of Autonomous Vehicle Technology on Healthcare”https://www.henryford.com/hcp/research/clinical-research/vision/research-congress/eye-brain-auto . And her paper “Clinical Report: Experiences of a Driver with Vision Impairment when Using a Tesla Car” in which the driver was also a b

California has a long history of low vision and bioptic driving with many critical events in evolution. In this blog I interview various people about California's history and current practice and reflect on the similarities and differences of success factors and barriers for Australia. Of particular interest in California is the controversy around studies done in 1983 and 1996 on motor vehicle collision rates of bioptic drivers. Interviews with: California's first licensed bi

Agenda for the last TSBVI In the Drivers Seat weekend A jump up to the fast-paced Austin, Texas is worlds apart from my previous stops in the USA. Here the culture, road infrastructure, services look like Melbourne and Sydney. Here bioptic driving has been around in the 1970s in practice and then formalised in law in the 1980s. Like many other places allowing those down to legally blind (20/200) to drive with a bioptic (20/40) if they pass the extensive eye and onroad testing