Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-17
ETESTS URGED
EVERY TWO YEARS
Examination for Faulty Wis.,
ion After Accidents Ad-
vised by Official.
spee.ai plsnateh 70 rne star.

BALTIMORE, November i6.--Auto-
mobile drivers should have their eye
sight tested every two years as q check
against trafic accidents, according to
Dr. Fred Andreae OF Baltimore, ofi1cial
examiner OF the optometry department
fee and a member of the National
Motor Vision Commission.
In all cases where drivers are ia
VOWED in accidents their eyes should be
tested by a trained examiner to see if
faulty vision has played any part in
the traffic mishap. DR.. Andreae said.
Need Of trained refractionists to test
the vision Of such drivers Is necessary,
he explained. inasmuch as there are
several minor eye defects which might
be overlooked In O casual examination.
For instance, driver can qualify In
an eye test and still be an unsafe
driver" DR.. Andreae said. HE might
have perfect vision straight ahead, but
his side vision may be limited. He
might suffer from 'suSpenopsia,' which
means the vision is absolutely suspend
ed IN one or both eyes for periods of
one second up to half b minute without
the person affiicted being aware of it."
Gives Seven Suggestions.
DR., Andreae is secretary of the Inter-
national Association Of Boards Of Ex-
aminers in Optometry. The seven sug-
gestions he has given for uniform eye
misSioners of motor vehicles are based
on long experience and practice
Following are the suggested rules:
u. Applicant for motor vehicle drivers
license should be able to read. The rea-
son for this is obvious.
49, In every case where vision is less
than 1910 In each eye. license should
be temporarily refused until the appli-
cant has his eyes examined to see If
vision can be improved and permanent
license be restricted TO- driving with
glasses. Twenty seventieths vision may
be considered safe, yet q person with
this vision today would have somewhat
less one year hence and each succeeding
year until he would eventually become
an unsafe driver.
IS. In case Of color blindness, when
the applicant can differentiate between
red, green and amber and can say they
cense should be issued.
e, When vision is absolutely less
than 20-l40 in each eye and cannot be
improved by glasses or treatment license
should be refused.
Restrictions for One Blind Eye.
as. When the field Of vision Is less
Chan l20 degrees license should be re-
fused. A person who cannot see from
the side Of each eye with gaze fixed
straight ahead has o restricted field of
vision and II IL does not measure 100 de-
grees he is an unsafe driver.
IS. There is not question that the
loss Of sight in one eye markedly in
creases the hazard In driving, and yet,
If the other eye has perfect sight,
driver may, with care, never have an
accident, but the danger is ever present.
In such cases, for the present we would
recommend that q person with blind
right eye and perfect vision in the left
eye be issued o license for daylight
driving only. and persons with blind
left eye and perfect right be issued
license with the provision that they
drive with q mirror to take care Of
vision when making left-hand turn.
go. Every auto driver should undergo
O physical inspection and eyesight test
at least every two years. After every
accident the drivers involved should
undergo an eyesight test"