Vision assessment of public service vehicle drivers in Nairobi

Abstract

This was a cross sectional study that was carried out in Nairobi. The main purpose of the study was to assess the vision of PSV drivers in Nairobi and to determine whether there was any association between accidents and impaired vision. A total of 539 PSV drivers aged 21 to 65 years were examined (mean 38.3+/- 9.2years). The drivers were randomly selected from the terminuses. Majority of the drivers were male (99.6%) with only two female drivers. Most of the drivers (76%) were having an eye check up for the first time and had obtained their driving license without their visual acuity being tested (68%). A hundred and forty drivers (26%) had problems with their eyes but only 37 drivers (27%) had sought medical attention. The visual acuity in the better eye varied from 6/6 to 6/36 and in the other eye from 6/6 to no perception of light. Thirteen percent of the drivers had inadequate visual acuity for a driver's license. Nine drivers (1.7%) had colour vision deficiency, 2.2% had constricted visual fields and 4.5% had cataracts. Two hundred and eighteen drivers (40%) had been involved in accidents in the last three years. Cataracts were significantly associated with accidents (p=O.007). However no significant association was found between visual acuity, colour vision deficiency, visual field defects and accidents. This study found that the percentage of drivers with inadequate visual acuity for driving is high. Evidently, regular check up of visual acuity is needed for a PSV driving license. This can be done at the time of renewal of the PSV license. Majority of the drivers had obtained their driving licence without their vision being checked. The law should be enforced to ensure that the vision of all driving license applicants is tested.