DVLA Examinations
Although the Government has awarded the contract for routine visual fields examinations to a well known multiple group there have been many instances where licences have been unnecessarily revoked.
We have carried out our own examinations and have reported directly to the DVLA on behalf of patients. To date been successful in having these decisions changed and licenses been reissued in quite a few cases.
Standards of vision for driving
You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.
You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.
You must also have an adequate field of vision - your optician can tell you about this and do a test.
Lorry and bus drivers
You must have a visual acuity at least 0.8 (6/7.5) measured on the Snellen scale in your best eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) on the Snellen scale in the other eye.
You can reach this standard using glasses with a corrective power not more than (+) 8 dioptres, or with contact lenses. There’s no specific limit for the corrective power of contact lenses.
You must have a horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees, the extension should be at least 70 degrees left and right and 30 degrees up and down. No defects should be present within a radius of the central 30 degrees.
You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects either eye.
You may still be able to renew your lorry or bus licence if you can’t meet these standards but held your licence before 1 January 1997.
Any fees associated with the completion of the D4 examination report must be paid by the driver.
