Abstract
How much insight do individuals have into their own visual abilities? This study investigated the extent to which individuals from 18 to 78 years old can accurately predict their own acuity under a broad range of luminances. New psychophysically based methods were developed to facilitate direct comparisons between individuals' estimates of their own visual acuity and their actual acuity. While all age groups appreciate that reductions in luminance have negative consequences on acuity, both younger and middle-age adults underestimated their ability to see in dim conditions. Older adults, however, overestimated their ability to see. These results fail to support the hypothesis that seniors would be the most aware of their limited visual abilities at night. Future research should explore why some seniors are comfortable driving at night while others are not.
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