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Little-known hazard sparks warning for Aussie drivers over 40: 'Can affect anyone'
Sydney woman Belinda Garvanovich used to dread driving after dark. For years, the anxiety persisted — until it led to a frightening close call.
"I used to refuse driving long distances at night and would make my husband drive as I wasn't confident," the 52-year-old told Yahoo News Australia. "I pushed my kids to get their licence as soon as they could so they could drive at night and not me.
"One time at a carpark at night, I couldn't see properly and went into a pole… next weekend I had an appointment booked in with my optometrist," she said.
The cause? Presbyopia, a common and age-related vision condition that affects the ability to focus on close-up objects, and one that millions of Australians may have without realising.
Belinda now wears "night glasses" while on the road and urged others with impaired vision to follow suit. "Don't put it off like me and get it checked ASAP," she urged.
After Australians experienced the longest night of the year this weekend, new research suggests a potentially dangerous trend is playing out on our roads, particularly among Aussies aged 35 to 50.
According to a new study, a staggering 72 per cent of mid-life Australians have never heard of presbyopia, despite more than half (51 per cent) reporting close-up vision problems in everyday life. The condition, which typically begins around age 40, becomes especially problematic during night driving.
Optometrist Greeshma Patel said the numbers reflect a broader lack of awareness and a pressing safety issue. "Presbyopia can affect nearly everyone as they age… but the term itself isn't widely known," she explained. "People often attribute their blurry near vision to just 'getting older' or 'tired eyes' rather than a specific condition."
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She said the condition can have serious implications on the road, especially in low-light conditions.
"When your eyes struggle to focus on near objects, it also affects their ability to quickly adapt focus between different distances," she said. "This means a driver might find it difficult to clearly read the dashboard, then instantly switch focus to road signs in the distance, or to spot pedestrians on dimly lit streets. It's not just about reading a book — it's about safe driving."
According to the survey, conducted by Specsavers, some 38 per cent of mid-life Australians admit to erratic driving at night due to poor vision. Pight per cent said they'd had a car accident as a result, and 57 per cent have felt unsafe driving at night due to their vision
Patel said symptoms like holding your phone further away, struggling with small text, or needing brighter light to read can all point to presbyopia, but many brush it off until something goes wrong.
"Workarounds like increasing screen text or borrowing someone else's glasses may help short term, but they delay getting the proper treatment," she said.
Fortunately, the fix is simple. "Presbyopia is very easy to treat and manage," she said. "The most common solutions are reading glasses, bifocals or multifocal lenses, and there are also contact lenses or corrective surgery options."
She's calling for greater public awareness, including campaigns to normalise routine eye checks. "Eye tests are bulk billed with a valid Medicare card, but many people still don't prioritise them unless something is seriously wrong," she said.
As Australia continues to grapple with a national rise in road deaths, vision may be one of the most overlooked risk factors, especially in the colder, darker months. "Mid-life vision issues aren't just about reading or texting," Patel said. "They're directly tied to confidence and clarity behind the wheel. A quick eye test could prevent a crash — or even save a life."
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