Published: January 03, 2009 09:30 pm      

Vision testing

Law will improve safety on West Virginia's highways

Many new laws across the country take effect with the start of the new year. And 2009 was no different.

Here in West Virginia, one new law will impact many people, if not this year, then in years to come.

Like whenever you go to renew your driver’s license.

Under the new law, all drivers renewing their licenses will take a vision test similar to the one they took when they started driving. For many drivers, that was many years ago, when they were teenagers.

But really, there is little reason to become worried or upset.

To pass the vision screening, which will be administered at state Division of Motor Vehicles’ offices around the state, drivers must have at least 20/40 vision in their best eye — with or without corrective lenses. So what is 20/40 vision? If a person can see at 20 feet what the average person can see at 40 feet, he or she has 20/40 vision.

Drivers can also bring in proof from an eye doctor that their vision meets the requirements.

And West Virginia’s new law applies to everyone, unlike other states that target specific age groups.

Let’s face it: Natural vision does not improve with age. Most often, the contrary is true. Dr. Burt Dubow, writing for All About Vision, said, “The most obvious change usually happens between the ages of 40 and 50 when we lose our ability to focus on near things. This is called presbyopia, and it happens to all of us at some time.”

Dubow says there are other changes as well, including the fact “the pupils get smaller and don’t move as fast, making it more difficult to adjust to lighting changes,”

But Dubow adds, “... most people do just fine with these changes. The important thing is to have your eyes checked yearly to watch for diseases that can cause real problems with your vision, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration and glaucoma.”

One of the most difficult things a police officer or family member has to do sometimes is tell a person he or she can no longer drive.

But as we said more than a year ago when state lawmakers began talking about this particular measure, driving a motor vehicle is a privilege, not a right, and the safety of all motorists must be the first priority.

We believe this law will improve safety on the highways — and will not create an undue hardship for those behind the wheels whose licenses are up for renewal.