by Satina Richardson
Amadou Bah, 33, who is visually impaired, once believed driving was out of reach. But with extensive training, support and determination, he now drives himself to work at Publix using bioptic driving, achieving one of his most significant goals.
Bah was referred to Terri Call, OD, an optometrist in UAB Eye Care’s Low Vision Clinic, by his advisor at the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation. She determined his eligibility for bioptic driving, then guided him through the training process.
Bioptic driving is a method that combines standard eyeglasses with a small telescopic lens system to enhance distance vision. The technique is currently legal in 37 states and requires extensive training, often lasting a year or more. Drivers must pass multiple evaluations by optometrists, ophthalmologists, occupational therapists and certified driving rehabilitation specialists. A failure, at any stage, halts progress.
"The successful drivers who complete the program are vetted at the highest level for vision, reaction times, mental alertness and overall safety," Call said. "These patients work incredibly hard for a very long time to make sure they are truly ready to drive, and when they graduate, they are some of the safest, and often most grateful, drivers on the road."
Call said some licenses may include restrictions, such as daytime-only driving. Bioptic drivers are often required to have annual eye exams, especially if their condition may worsen over time.
Because Bah has albinism, he will likely be able to drive with his bioptics as long as he likes.
“Their field-of-view remains completely normal and full all their lives, and because this is a congenital condition, everything remains stable and does not get worse with time. This is part of why patients with albinism are ideal candidates for bioptic driving,” she said.
The first step in the process was a comprehensive eye exam at UAB Eye Care to determine whether the patient meets legal criteria, including specific visual acuity. Peripheral vision standards, which directly impact road safety, reaction time, and situational awareness, are also evaluated.
Once Bah received his specialized glasses, Call taught him how to use them, re-evaluated his eligibility and ensured the glasses were properly fitted.
He then began bioptic spotting training with Jason Vice, PhD, OTR/L, SCLV, at UAB’s Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation.
Vice explained that spotting training helps individuals with low vision learn to use their bioptic telescope briefly and effectively to identify specific details, such as road signs or potential hazards, while relying on their regular (carrier) lens for overall visual awareness. The training emphasizes the coordination of quick head and eye movements to safely gather visual information without losing track of the broader driving environment.
“Spotting training is a bridge between the clinical setting and real-world application, preparing patients not just to see through a bioptic, but to functionally use it in a way that supports safe, responsible, and legal driving,” he said.
After being cleared for the next phase, Bah trained behind the wheel with a certified driver rehabilitation specialist. He also logged additional practice hours with an instructor to gain experience in and driving routine routes, such as his commute from home to work.
Once Bah demonstrated consistent safety and competency, he was issued a bioptic driver’s license and permitted to drive independently.
"The greatest goal of any low vision practice is to help patients maintain their independence,” Call said. “Knowing your sight has been permanently damaged is hard enough; feeling like you're losing your freedom on top of that can be devastating. Watching patients regain that freedom, seeing them able to do things for themselves that they thought they'd lost forever, like driving a town over to visit family or shopping for their own groceries, is the reason I fell in love with low vision care.”
Bah credits his care team and loved ones for helping him through the process. He encourages others with similar challenges to pursue bioptic driving.
"I would recommend anyone with the same difficulties as me, or more, to take this opportunity," Bah said. "It offers truly significant benefits for improved vision that allow us to accomplish tasks we didn’t think were possible, like driving. I wouldn’t end without expressing my gratitude to Dr. Call and UAB for the remarkable service. Thank you again very much."