Drivers Eyesight: Step 2

Unit Three Subject 2 - Drivers Eyesight: Step 2 - Eye checks

Unit 3 - Basic Skills:
Home page

1 - Show/Tell:
1. Overview

2 - Drivers Eyesight:
1. Introduction
2. Eye checks
3. Eyesight problems
4. Project

3 - Cockpit Drill:
1. Introduction
2. The drill
3. Explanation

4 - Moving off:
1. Introduction
2. The basics
3. POM Introduction
4. Prepare
5. Observe
6. Move
7. Brake tests
8. Stopping
9. Summary
10. Project

5 - Using Gears:
1. Introduction
2. Observation
3. Selective gear changing
4. Smooth changes

6 - Hazard Routine:
1. Introduction
2. Easy starting point
3. Mirrors
4. Signals
5. Manoeuvre
6. Project

7 - Junctions:
1. Introduction
2. Emerging
3. Approaching
4. Approaching right
5. Crossroads
6. Roundabouts

8 - Hills:
1. Introduction
2. Downhill safety
3. Parking
4. Uphill starts
5. Downhill starts

9 - Emergency Stop:
1. Introduction
2. The method
3. Skids
4. The driving test
5. Project

DRIVING HOME PAGE

Eye tests - More than meets the eye?

This piece was written by an experienced driving instructor, Richard, and is published as a warning for others...

When was the last time that you had a routine eye check?

Just last month I was reminded of the importance of having my eyes checked regularly.

Going along to the optician for my two yearly check-up I had no reason to suspect that my eyes or health were in any way out of tilt.

During the examination the optician picked up that I had a pin prick red mark behind each eye. He explained to me that such marks normally suggest a higher than normal blood pressure.

He referred me directly to my doctor. This meant a wait of two weeks while he wrote a letter and for my surgery to get around to reading it.

Sure enough I got the call to go and see the doctor. After the usual blood tests it was confirmed that my blood pressure was high, but more worryingly that this was being caused by an exceptionally high cholesterol level, and an 'off the scale' blood-sugar level.

The doctor explained that my blood pressure with weight and height factors, smoking and modest drinking habits were taken into consideration I had a 22.5% chance of a heart attack, with the cholesterol reading it went up to 37%, and when the blood-sugar level was calculated in it jumped to 45%.

Worrying! (To say the least)

I wonder what the figure might have been if my job had been taken into consideration as well?

Now, I'm a Joe average, 34" waist, five foot eleven tall, with, if I'm honest, just slight bulge around the tummy. I considered myself quite fit for a fifty year old who spends most of his time sitting in a driving school car.

How wrong could I have been!

Worse. I had tests ran on me only seven months earlier in connection with something else entirely, and at that time everything was 'fine'. So the changes to my blood pressure etc., had all happened within a short time span.

Fortunately for me, and through the vigilance of my optician all my symptoms were picked up early and with the correct drugs everything should return to normality, if I clean up my life style a bit.

If you are one of those busy folks who simply do not have enough time for such things as eye tests it's time for you to make time.
Richard

Next: Typical eyesight problems

The importance of eye checks

Eye tests - More than meets the eye?