Those with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have strikingly similar judgement to those with normal vision when faced with an approaching vehicle.  

A study, published in PLOS One, used a virtually simulated roadway with an approaching vehicle viewed from the pedestrian’s perspective (DeLucia et al, 2025). The vehicle was presented in three different scenarios: visually only, aurally only, or both simultaneously. Participants were asked to press a button to indicate when the vehicle would reach them.

The authors concluded it was the degree of bilateral visual impairment in those with AMD that is important. Having visual impairment in both eyes was not enough to predict any differences between the two groups.