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Motoring
A guide to visual standards for drivers
The role of the Drivers Medical Group at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is to promote road safety by establishing whether drivers who have medical conditions can satisfy the medical standards required for safe driving. However, there are some circumstances in which DVLA don't routinely require notification.
If you are the holder of a car, moped or motorcycle driving licence (group one) you may not need to inform DVLA if you have a condition which affects only one eye or have sight in one eye only. If your eyesight condition should worsen and you cannot read a number plate or you lose any of your field of vision you must write and tell the DVLA. In the interests of road safety you must be sure at all times that you can safely control a motor vehicle.
Sight in one eye only
If you have sight in only one eye you may still be able to meet the visual standards for driving set out below. It may take up to three months for you to adapt safely to driving with one eye, so please be prepared for this. In particular your ability to judge distances accurately may be affected and you may not be so aware of objects to each side of you.
One eye is affected by a medical condition
If you have a medical condition that currently affects one eye only, you may still be able to meet the visual standards for driving set out below.
Following the removal of cataracts
If you have had surgery to remove cataracts you should be advised that your eyesight following surgery must be within the required standard specified below to allow you to continue driving.
Visual acuity standards
You must be able to read a standard size number plate (with glasses or corrective lenses if necessary) from 20.5 metres (67 feet) or 20 metres (65 feet) where narrower characters 50mm wide) are displayed. This requirement is specified in law and any person driving on a public highway who is unable to do this is guilty of an offence. The 'number plate test' may be self-administered, allowing you to keep a regular check on your visual ability. You should also be aware that if the police have reason to suspect that a driver is driving with defective vision they can require the driver to take a 'number plate test'. Failure may lead to prosecution.
Visual field standards
You must also ensure that you have an adequate field of vision. The field of vision standard requires a specific width of visual field without significant defects in the sensitive central area. If you have total loss of sight in one eye you must not have any defect in the visual field of the remaining eye. If you have any doubt about whether you can meet the requirements, your GP, optician or eye specialist will be able to advise you.
Further information
If the above information indicates that you do need to notify DVLA about your condition, you can do so by printing off and completing medical questionnaire V1.
Alternatively if you meet all the requirements set out above, DVLA don't require notification. Please print off the information leaflet, 'A guide to visual standards and driving ordinary vehicles (group one)'.
If you have been advised by your doctor that you should not be driving you may wish to voluntarily surrender your licence and reapply for it's return in the future when you have the support of your doctor(s).
