Eyes on the Road: Importance of Sight and Driving

I recently have moved to Indiana from Ohio. Having gone to college in the Hoosier state and making frequent trips to Indianapolis from Bloomington, I was pretty well acquainted with Indianapolis upon moving here. As a new comer to the state though, I have begun to switch over my Ohio things for Indiana ones such as I officially have an Indiana address to which all of my mail is sent and I am now a registered Hoosier voter so come election time I can make my voice heard in Indiana politics. What is left on my list of things to change or do? An Indiana driver’s license.

Obtaining a driver’s license is a rite of passage for many teenagers out there as they earn their freedom (or try too from their parents) and are able to transport themselves around town to their everyday hang outs, school, work, church etc. Driving is a very cool privilege for teenagers to have especially in the summer time when their free time is vast and the list of opportunities for fun seem endless. I remember when I first started driving and how eager I was to run to the grocery store for my parents or go to work as driving was such a new thing to do-it was fun. The preparation and work to earn a drivers license is not always fun though with the long evening classes and the on-the-road training taking up much time-but the end result is worth it: a driver’s license. Having passed my test when I was 16 and having gone through the necessary training, my excitement to transfer my license to Indiana was more to get it checked off my to-do list than anything else.

Being a transplanted Hoosier I needed an Indiana license to make my move official which I got on Saturday. Because I had an Ohio license already I just had to take a 50-question written test and an eye test to pass and earn my Hoosier license. Taking the quick eye test got me thinking about just how important it is to have my eyes checked by an eye care doctor each year (getting an eye examination) to ensure I am doing my best driving out on the roads and best seeing in general. Driving requires senses like sight, sound, and touch to which a veteran driver usually doesn’t think about often when on the roads as the task of driving is second nature. I believe all of these senses are important to have while safely operating a vehicle but sight is clearly valued highly by the government with the required test to get a license and thus should be by all drivers. To this end, as I got my license this weekend I realized just how important it is to visit a vision center and doctor each year to ensure that I am doing my best seeing (and thus driving) on the road. Whether you need a prescription or not, visiting an eye care doctor will help you safely navigate the roads here in Indianapolis and beyond. And while on the roads this summer don’t forget your sunglasses which help reduce the glare you see and help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Happy driving!