Note: This study is currently only recruiting patients in the hospital.

If you are interested in being notified if this study begins recruiting from the general population, please use the 'I Am Interested' button below.

Driving with central vision loss (Recruiting drivers 60 years and older with normal vision)

We are doing the study to learn more about driving difficulties that people with central vision loss (e.g., Age-related macular degeneration) experience compared to people with normal vision (i.e., without central vision loss).

Mass Eye and Ear Vision Impairment and Blindness
8 hours over 2 visits
Estimated Time Commitment
Any Gender, 60-years or older
May Be Eligible
Payment up to $50
May Be Offered
Office visit, Survey
May Be Required
 
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Enrollment for this study is expected to close on Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Overview

What we are studying

We are interested in understanding how central vision loss, most commonly caused by age-related macular degeneration, affects driving, what difficulties drivers with central vision loss may face, and how driver assistance systems may help them.


Why it is important

Drivers with central vision loss may exprience delayed detection of hazards compared to normally-sighted drivers, increasing the likelihood of missing hazardous events while driving. To better understand how drivers with central vision loss cope with real-time traffic situations, further research needs to incorporate realistic driving scenarios and comprehensive performance metrics. This research will lead to a better understanding of driving with central vision loss and how driver assistance systems may support driving safety for this group.


What we hope to accomplish

The purpose of this study is to


a) Evaluate the impact of central vision loss on driving performance and gaze behaviors, particularly in hazardous situations and compare to drivers without central vision loss.


b) Assess the potential effects of driving assistance systems on driving performance and gaze behaviors of drivers with and without central vision loss.

Principal Investigator

Alex Bowers, PhD

Mass Eye and Ear

Public Profile

Project Contact

Click I Am Interested "I Am Interested" "I Am Interested" to get started. If you have questions, contact:

MEEI Bowers Lab

BowersLabStudies@meei.harvard.edu
(617) 912-2512

Who can participate


  • Age: 60 years and older;

  • Currently driving;

  • Vision that meets the requirements for a regular driver’s license;

  • English speaking (sufficient to participate in study procedures).

What you may be asked to do

Typically, the study will involve 1 or 2 visits (2-4 hours per visit) and include the following:


The participants will be asked to answer a series of questions about their driving experience and any driving difficulties they may experience in their day-to-day driving.


Their visual ability such as visual acuity (ability to read letters) and contrast sensitivity (ability to see pale grey letters) will be measured.


Participants will complete a series of drives in a virtual driving simulator.


Project activities may include:

  • Office visit
  • Survey

Estimated Time Commitment

8 hours over 2 visits

What You May Get

For each office visit, participants will be reimbursed $50 for their time, and up to $50 for travel expenses for the study. The validated parking is provided.

Location

Schepen Eye Resarch Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear
20 Staniford St, Boston, MA 02114

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Travel

  • Accessible by public transportation
  • Parking available
  • Parking reimbursed
  • Local travel reimbursed

Travel and Parking Details

Additional Information

Project Website

https://bowerslab.eye.hms.harvard.edu/


Participating Institutions


Funding Source

  • Other
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