Purpose: To study visual acuity of the candidates for driving licences in the city of Pelotas and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics of the candidates. Methods: One thousand and ten candidates for driving license were examined in a Detran approved medical service. To check the social, demographic and visual characteristics of candidates, visual acuity, with or without correction, as well as its relation to color, gender, age and profession of the interviewed persons was evaluated, through analysis of frequencies and association. Results: In this study 72.5% were males, 33.8% were between 18 and 45 years old, 52.0% were in the service sector and 25.4% used some instrument of visual correction, 0.5% of the interviewed from the ophthalmological viewpoint, would not be able to drive automotor vehicles and 4.7% should only would get a driving license in the A and B categories. A low visual acuity has been associated with a higher longevity. Conclusion: Based on the results, a shorter time period for visual reavaluation of the C, D and E categories drivers is suggest.
Visual acuity; Vision tests; Vision disorders; Automobile driver examination; Color perception; Socioeconomic factors; Color vision defects; Sex factors
