Car insurance with Cataracts

Car Insurance and Cataracts

“Can I get car insurance with cataracts?” This might be a question weighting heavily on you as you get older and your body begins to change. As long as your vision meets certain requirements, you can still drive and get car insurance even with cataracts. However, if cataracts ends up making your driving unsafe, your doctor and the DMV won’t approve you to drive. When this happens, most drivers turn to cataract surgery as a form of treatment.

To learn more about the important insurance topics of car insurance with cataracts, as well as safe cataract driving tips, keep reading. If you want to save on car insurance after cataract surgery, enter your ZIP code in our free rate comparison tool above.

Does car insurance change after cataract surgery?

How common are cataracts? According to the National Eye Institute, 50 percent of Americans over the age of 75 have cataracts, making imperfect vision and cataract surgery a common occurrence. However, most drivers over the age of 60 actually get reduced rates, as they have more driving experience than younger drivers and aren’t driving as often due to retirement.

Take a look at the table below to see how 60-year-old drivers’ rates compare to other ages’ rates.

Average Annual Car Insurance Rates by Marital Status, Age, and Gender

You may find that the price of your car insurance after a cataract operation changes slightly. The removal of cataracts, barring complications, helps drivers see clearer and makes them less prone to accidents. It might sound strange that an older person with cataracts is less at risk than a young driver, but they have more experience in terms of being on the road. Though that being said, a smart driver is a safe driver. If you are unsure how well your vision is before and after surgery, driving tests are available once you’ve finished your treatment.

Taking a driving test before and after you have your cataracts removed will help test if your vision is good enough to drive safely. Cataracts and driving can make for dangerous driving conditions. Even after surgery, there can be complications, which is why cataracts’ surgery driving tests can prove to your insurer you are low-risk on the road and keep your rates low.

How do I get a driver’s license after cataract surgery?

When you go to renew your driver’s license after cataract surgery, make sure you have a doctor’s note clearing you to drive. Otherwise, you may not get your license renewed and could face car insurance cancellation and non-renewal.

If you wore glasses before your surgery, you can get the corrective lens restriction removed from your driver’s license as long as you now have suitable vision for driving without corrective lenses. While driving after cataract surgery on one eye may not result in the corrective lens restriction being removed, 20/20 vision in both eyes after surgery will result in a license update.

What is driving like after cataracts develop?

You may be wondering, “can you drive a car with cataracts? Can cataracts end a driving career?” They’re valid questions, and no doubt asked by a number of drivers who are living through the same conditions as you are. As long as you have been approved to drive by a doctor, there is no reason you can’t drive a car with cataracts. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) does recommend that drivers with cataracts do the following:

• Avoid driving at times when it is hard to see, such as at dusk/dawn or nighttime.
• Keep the inside and outside of your car windshields clean.
• Keep your automobile headlamps clean in the event you need to drive at night.

Following these steps will help you with driving defensively with cataracts by maximizing your ability to see.

You also may be wondering, “Is a defensive driving class worth it?” Yes, any class that improves your driving experience will help reduce rates, even if you do have cataracts.

While all of the NHTSA’s suggestions apply to dim lighting, it is important to also ask, “does daylight driving in bright sunlight hurt cataracts?” The simple answer is yes. The longer answer is that cataracts can cause light sensitivity, so bright light can make it hard for people with cataracts to see. If you find that sunny days make it harder to drive, make sure you always have a pair of sunglasses in the car to maximize visibility.

Is night driving after cataract surgery dangerous?

Another frequently asked question is, “do cataracts cause vision problems in night driving?” Cataracts and night driving don’t always go hand in hand. As we said earlier, the NHSTA recommends avoiding driving at night, as cataracts can cause night driving problems.  Reduced vision leads to reduced reaction times, so cataracts do affect night driving.

If you’re also asking, “are there glasses for cataracts night driving?” there’s some good news for you! There are absolutely glasses designed for night driving sensitivity. You can ask your eye doctor for prescription glasses with a special anti-reflective coating that reduces glare from headlights and streetlamps and makes it easier to see. You can also purchase these glasses without an eyeglass prescription.

The problems from night time driving with cataracts lead many drivers to ask, “does removing cataracts improve night driving?” Night driving after cataracts surgery can be greatly improved for most drivers, as the cloudy vision is gone after the surgery and reduces glare at night. Chances are you’ll no longer see the halos around lights, and won’t need special eyewear.

We hope our guide to cataracts and driving has helped you. If you are ready to shop for better car insurance rates after cataract surgery, enter your ZIP code in our free tool below. There is also an FAQ for some more questions that some people with this particular medical condition might ask.

Frequently Asked Questions: Guide to Car Insurance and Cataracts

#1 – Do you have to inform DVLA if you have cataracts?

The Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA) is the equivalent of the DMV in the UK. As long as you meet the visual requirements for driving, you do not need to tell the DVLA. However, if you do not meet the visual requirements, you could be fined for not telling the DVLA, as all drivers need to tell the DVLA about medical conditions that affect their driving ability.

#2 – Can prescription glasses help with cataracts?

Should you buy cataracts glasses? Prescription glasses with anti-reflective coating can help you see better. You may also receive temporary glasses after cataracts surgery to help your vision as your eyes heal.

#3 – What do people with cataracts see while driving?

The NEI states that people with cataracts often experience the following vision problems:

• Cloudy/blurry vision
• Faded colors
• Reduced night vision
• Light sensitivity
• Halo around lights
• Seeing double

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to pay a visit to your eye doctor.

#4 – How much does it cost to have cataracts removed?

The average cost to have cataracts removed is $3,000 to $4,000. Insurance may pay for part of your cataract-removal surgery.