Cataracts and Older Driver Safety
(A podcast from the “Beyond Driving with Dignity” show)Click here to listen to the podcast.
Today’s guest is Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, MD, FACS. For thirty years, Dr. Mendelsohn has served as a national leader in the field of ophthalmology. He attended Northwestern University’s Honors Program in Medical Education and Northwestern University Medical School, where he also completed his residency training in Ophthalmology.
At the completion of this training, the prestigious Heed Ophthalmic Foundation recognized him as one of the ten most outstanding graduating ophthalmologists in the United States.
Dr. Mendelsohn has held numerous leadership positions in both the Broward County Medical Association and the Florida Medical Association. He has also received a number of national and state-wide awards for his efforts and leadership from organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Florida Medical Association, and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology. Dr. Mendelsohn has authored numerous scientific publications and has presented his findings at international and national ophthalmology society conferences.
We are most fortunate that Dr. Mendelsohn has taken time out of his very busy schedule to talk with us about cataracts and how they can adversely effect one’s safe driving abilities.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
You may find the show notes (below) helpful as you listen to the show:
00:00 Welcome to the“
Beyond Driving with Dignity”
podcast show! 01:27 Introducing today’s guest; renowned eye surgeon Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, MD, FACS 03:28 Today’s topic: Cataracts and how they can adversly effect one’s safe driving abilities 03:37 Welcome to the show, Dr. Mendelsohn!0341 Blinded By the Night; Coping With Impaired Night Vision While Driving 04:35 Dr. Mendelsohn discusses his most recent article (above) 04:45 Who is most likely to get cataracts? 05:05 When will I start to develop cataracts? 05:24 Just how do cataracts effect our vision? 05:40 Night time driving and cataracts 06:35 Early signs of cataracts 08:04 How do I know if I’m going to develop cataracts? 08:34 How do cataracts effect overall driving safety? 09:36 The importance of a current prescription for my eye glasses 12:06 How do cataracts effect non-drivers? 12:56 Can we prevent the onset of cataracts? 13:47 Progressive lenses Vs. Bi-focal glasses 15:17 Understanding corridor width in progressive lenses 17:33 Pupils, the brain and night time driving 20:25 Crizal lenses to reduce glare 22:00 Eye Surgeons and Consultants (Hollywood, Florida) 22:38 The many benefits of prescription sun glasses 23:20 The tricky situation surrounding contact lenses 23:34 Mono-vision and depth perception 26:55 New technologies and cataract procedures 27:34 Thank you, Dr. Mendelsohn! 27:55 How to contact Dr. Mendelsohn 28:45 Thank you to Chris MacLellan and everyone at The Whole Care Network 29:18 Closing commentsKeeping Us Safe is a national organization that provides practical, real-life solutions to older drivers and their families. Learn more about our programs by visiting the Keeping Us Safe website at https://www.keepingussafe.org or by calling toll-free 877-907-8841.
