CHARLESTON, S.C. - The death of a Lowcountry cyclist struck by a driver who was blind in one eye has prompted a North Charleston lawmaker to study strengthening South Carolina's eyesight requirements for drivers.

Rep. Seth Whipper said he became interested in the issue after hearing about the death of Olympic cycling hopeful Garrett Patrick Wonders in March 2004.

The man who pleaded guilty to hitting Wonders was blind in his right eye and never saw the bicyclist riding along the side of the road near Moncks Corner.

"It may be a risk that the state doesn't want to take to have people with certified blind spots in their field of vision driving," said Whipper, D-North Charleston.

Even though Theodore Borck was blind in his right eye, he was legally behind the wheel because he had 20-40 corrected vision in his left eye when he wore his glasses. That's the minimum level of vision allowed by the Legislature.

Whipper considered filing a bill last week to strengthen the vision requirements but decided to hold off until next year because of the complexity of eye science and the sensitivity of the issue because it affects people who are impaired. "It's going to take a little study," he said.

Wrecks caused by eyesight problems will likely increase in South Carolina as its population ages, Whipper said.

South Carolina isn't alone in requiring 20-40 vision in just one eye. The laws in North Carolina and Florida are nearly identical, and several other Southeastern states have similar standards.

Borck, 52, pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in the death of Wonders earlier this month and was sentenced to two years of probation. The plea deal also required Borck to give up his driver's license.

Berkeley County prosecutors wanted to take the case to trial, but accepted the deal after learning Borck was driving legally.