Vision & Driving

occupational: relating to person's health and safety

vocational:

Grp 1= cars and motorcycles

Grp 2 lorries and buses

1. VA standard

2. VF standard

3. Notifiable conditions

• must be able to read numberplate from 20m outdoors AND VA>=6/12

• each refers to binocular so driver can have only 1 eye

if VA of 6/12: number plate test wil determine

if VA <6/12 : license not issued

• binocular VF at least 120” AND

• at least 50” R and L AND

• no significat defect within 20” of fixation

• have to perform Binocular Esterman test

• blepharospasm

• diabetic retinopathy ( with laser therapy)- affects VF

• diplopia

• glaucoma- affects VF

• nyctalopia ( night blindness)- affects VF

• retinitis pigmentosa

• stroke

Monocular standards so driver cant have 1 eye

• better eye = 6/7.5 corrected + worse eye = 6/60 corrected AND

• Rx not greater than +8D because VF is reduced ( all powers in CL allowed)

** if Rx +8.25, try reduce BVD

• binocular VF at least 160” horizontally AND

• 70” R and L

• no defects within central 30”

• Standard size numberplate with correction from 20m outdoors

• px with reduced CS from glaucoma, cataract, ARMD or any other ocular media opacity.

• each test is sepearte i.e seeing 6/12 doesnt mean numberplate will be visible.

• Clearly tell them they are unfit to drive.

• if the patient consents to this tell the patient that they have a legal duty to inform the DVLA about their condition and that you may be obliged to tell the DVLA if the patient continues to drive when they are unfit to do so

• put your advice in writing to the patient

• record your advice and keep a copy of any correspondence to the patient on the patient record.