Driving with poor eyesight: a safety guide for drivers who need to wear glasses or contact lenses

Introduction

Safety should always be the number-one priority when driving – and that includes making sure your eyesight meets the legal requirements. Think about it; sight is relied on much more so than any of the five senses while driving. In fact, research shows that more than 90% of the information we take in when we’re driving comes from vision.

Lacking proper knowledge of how poor eyesight affects our vision while sitting in the driver's seat with bad eyesight can put ourselves and others at risk. You may fail to see traffic, read signs, and spot hazards on the roads ahead. As a matter of fact, reports show that on average, poor eyesight causes over 2,900 road casualties every year in the UK. And it’s also estimated that there are over 1.8 million active drivers on UK roads who do not meet the current minimum eyesight standards.

With driving and poor eyesight being such a risky combination, we’ve put together a guide for anyone who wears glasses or contacts. Ultimately, you have a responsibility to take good care of your eyesight and make sure you’re driving legally, and this includes attending regular eye tests and informing the DVLA of any problems.

Driving eyesight requirements in the UK

The DVLA is the governmental body that issues driving licences. They also set the legal standards for efficient eyesight while driving a vehicle. According to the current driving eyesight rules in place by the DVLA, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be able to read a car registration plate from a minimum of 20 metres away (the type found on cars from September 2001 onwards)
• Have a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale
• Have an adequate field of vision (the ability to see hazards in your peripheral vision)

All of these standards can be met with or without the aid of glasses or contacts, and using both eyes, or one eye only.

Lorry and bus driver eyesight requirements

The minimum standards are higher for lorry and bus drivers. They need to meet the following standards of vision:

• Have a minimum visual acuity of 0.8 (6/7.5) in their best eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) in the other
• Have a minimum uninterrupted horizontal field of 160º (with a minimum extension of 70º for left and right and 30º up and down)
• Use of standard glasses must have a maximum corrective power of +8 dioptres (there is no limit for contact lenses)

Other things to note

• An optician can carry out tests that examine all three of the DVLA’s eyesight rules
• When renewing their licence, drivers aged 70 or over need to declare that their eyesight meets the minimum legal standards. Anyone aged over 60 can get an NHS eye test free of charge
• Learner drivers will be asked to read a car registration plate at the start of your practical driving test

Causes of poor eyesight

Poor eyesight can be genetic. However, sometimes poor vision is a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition. Here are some of the other most common reasons for poor eyesight, including a range of vision problems that may cause you to fall under the minimum eyesight standard for driving.

Myopia and hyperopia

These are two of the most common causes of poor vision, also known as short-sightedness and long-sightedness respectively. Myopia (short-sightedness) makes it difficult to see objects in the far distance, whereas hyperopia (long-sightedness) makes it difficult to see objects up close. Both conditions are predominantly hereditary and impair your ability to see things correctly.

Hemianopia

The loss of one-half of your visual field. Hemianopia is most commonly caused by serious damage to the brain, usually from a stroke, brain tumour, or trauma. The scope of the visual field loss can vary depending on the severity of the brain injury, but it usually involves loss on the same side in both eyes – left or right.

Quadrantanopia is a very similar condition, except the loss covers one-quarter of your visual field.

Cataracts

A condition that affects your eyesight from cloudy patches developing over the small transparent disc inside your eye is known as cataracts. This condition is predominantly age-related, with the patches becoming bigger and more cloudy over time, causing blurry vision and sometimes eventually blindness.

Age and vision

Eyesight generally deteriorates with age. As we get older, most of us will notice changes in our vision, including the inability to see up close, having difficulty seeing colours, and finding it hard to adjust to bright lights. In addition to general ageing, more serious age-related vision problems include:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects the sharpness of our central vision, causing blurriness when doing things like reading or driving.
• Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes caused by damage to the back of the eye. It can lead to severe vision loss and blindness.
• Glaucoma, caused by a build of fluid inside the eye that damages the optic nerve. Although it’s a relatively common condition, glaucoma can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Getting tested

When was the last time you were tested for your eyesight? Research shows that people aren’t visiting an optometrist as often as they should. In fact, 5% percent of people over the age of 40 admitted they haven’t had their eyes tested for over a decade, and less than 50% of adults wouldn’t actively turn to the help of an optometrist to find the cause of their eye problem.

That makes thousands of us not utilising the assistance of optometrists (those who are considered to be the UK’s frontline eyecare professionals).

How to book an eye test

Roshni Kanabar, an optometrist for the Association of Optometrists, urges everyone to get tested regularly in order to stay safe on the roads. She said, “If you’re finding it hard to see when driving, your first port of call should be your optometrist, so they can investigate what might be causing your issues and recommend solutions to make you comfortable and safe.”

So how do you book an eye test to find the solution you need? Well, the good news is the NHS offers free eye tests to a few different people, including anyone who is:

• Under the age of 16
• Over the age of 60
• In full-time education
• Registered blind or partially-sighted
• Diagnosed with diabetes
• Diagnosed with glaucoma
• A prisoner or have recently left prison
• On some form of government income support

Find out if you’re entitled to free eye tests on the NHS website.

If you don’t qualify for NHS eye tests, rest assured there are plenty of other options out there. Prices will vary across the most popular high street opticians, but they should usually be no more than £30 per test. You might even come across free eye tests or discounted offers if you look in the right places.

The NHS also offers optical vouchers to reduce the price of glasses and contact lenses. Plus, if you’ve already paid for a test and think you might qualify, you may be able to claim back the full cost – just make sure you keep your receipt handy.

Download the refund claim form here.