Ability to drive after surgery for retinal detachment

Background: After vitreoretinal surgery the patient is at least temporarily unable to drive. Buckling procedures may cause refractive changes, reduced motility or impaired binocular vision. We examined the ability of these pa tients to drive a car according to German law after retinal surgery. Patients and methods: The frequency and extent of changes interfering with driving ability were examined in 112 unselected patients 3.5 years (2-5 yea rs) after successful buckling procedures. We used half-round buckling eleme nts of 3-11 mm diameter or encircling bands (2-3 mm). We examined Visual ac uity, frequency of permanent diplopia and field of normal binocular vision. Driving ability was considered as impaired, when Visual acuity was below 0 .4 in the better eye or 0.2 in the worse eye, or when diplopia occurred wit hin a gazing field of 20 degrees of diameter. Results: Eighteen of 112 (16%) patients reported diplopia within the first 3 months, so they were temporarily unable to drive. Two to five years later 14 of 112 patients did not have sufficient Visual acuity according to the German requirements. Another 2 patients had an impaired binocular vision, r esulting in driving disability. Conclusion: Driving ability may be temporarily restricted by double Vision in 15 % of patients after successful buckling for retinal detachment. Perma nent driving ability is mainly impaired by macular involvement in retinal d etachment. The type of buckling procedure is of minor importance.