Week 5- Visual standards for drivers

Question 1

Define License B or group 1:-

Answer 1

• Motorcycles, cars and light vans up to 8 passengers

Question 2

3 questions for type B:-

Answer 2

• Can read car plate from 20.5m(67ft) or 20m where narrower characters are displayed ?( 50mm wide)
- characters 79.4mm high, 57mm wide from 20.5m in practice car plate?
- Charles wright font

Question 3

The number plate test, what is it + facts:-

Answer 3

• Test done using charles wright font,
- 50mm wide and 79.5mm high, 20m distance
• Same snellen acuity as 6/9-2, therefore 6/9 or better would meet target
• Takes place time of driving test
- Carried out by driving examiner
• All UK drivers required to notify DVLA if unable to comply with standards

Question 4

Question 2:-

Answer 4

• “Do you need to wear glasses/corrective lenses when driving”?
- Illegal to drive without necessary Rx

Question 5

Question 3:-

Answer 5

• Have you ever had, or do you currently suffer from any of the following conditions:
- Any conditions affecting BOTH eyes, or the remaining eye if you only have one eye?
- Any condition affecting your visual field (Number 21 in Driving Standards list)?

Question 6

Binocular visual field requirements:-

Answer 6

• Field of at least 120° on horizontal
• No significant defect in BV encroaching within 20° of fixation above or below horizontal
• Ester-man BV field test
- Grid if 120 test points to examine more than 130deg of visual field

Question 7

Diplopia, colour vision, night blindness and monocularly associated with standards?

Answer 7

• Insuperable diplopia causes unfitness to drive
• Lack of colour vision is not a bar to driving
• Night blindness : acuity and field standards must be met, cases considered individual bases
• Monocularity is not bar to driving as long as:- driving standards met, adaptation condition is met

Question 8

What are progressive conditions that can affect driving standards:-

Answer 8

• glaucoma
• high myopia
• cataract
• diabetic retinopathy
• macular degeneration
All require notification, with a license able to be issued as long as other requirements met - 1,2,3 year license available

Question 9

Optometrists duty:-

Answer 9

• Inform px if driving age and falls below standards test
- Should be noted on record card
- warned about jeopardising of insurance if failure to comply
• If clear that they will not inform DVLA : Optom may seek advice from AOP, and send legal letter to px

Question 10

Groups that need Licenses (PVD) for professional and vocational driving:-

Answer 10

• Large goods vehicles
• Medium sized vehicles (3.5-7.5 tonnes)
• Private hire cabs
• Passenger carrying vehicles
• People employed as drivers
• Mini-buss with 9-16 passenger seats
• Any vehicle with heavy trailers (750kg+)

Question 11

Bars for PVD licenses:-

Answer 11

• Any pathological defect
- Drivers must have full visual fields
• Any insuperable diplopia or monocular vision
- Patching not acceptable

Question 12

PVD license visual requirements:-

Answer 12

• Visual acuity of 6/9 in better eye, at least 6/12 in worse eye
• Uncorrected VA must reach at least 3/60 on snellen
• Must have normal field of vision in both eyes
• Must not be suffering from diplopia

• All applicants must carry spare set of glasses on them, and tolerate any visual correction well

Question 13

Exceptions to new PVD standards:-

Answer 13

• Already held vocational license on 31st dec 1996, and do not meet new uncorrected standards are EXEMPT if:-
- Meet previous (1/1/97) uk standard
- Corrected acuity of 6/9 better eye, 6/12 worse eye and 3/60 (no rx) in at least one eye
- “Grandfather rights”
- Some drivers can be monocular

Question 14

Further recommendations for exempt PVD drivers:-

Answer 14

• Must still meet eyesight regulations
- Driven an LGV or PCV 10 occasions in last 10 years
- Have not been involved in any accident in preceding 10 years where eyesight is factor
• Estimated 3000 drivers may loose their rights due to claiming “grandfather rights”

Question 15

Group 2 license time frame:-

Answer 15

• Valid till age 45 or for 5 years
• 45+, there is 5 year cap, from 65+ renewals are annual
• Taxi drivers are licensed by local authorities

Question 16

Research into driving standards methodm:-

Answer 16

• Survey of vision motorway commissioned by Autoglass - “Fit to see”
- Set up shop in motorway services london, birmingham, manchester, london
- 299 applicants screened
- asked series of questions + vision tested using black letters on yellow background at 3m

Question 17

Findings of survey:- (8 total)

Answer 17

1. 10.3% drivers had below legal standard for driving
2. 25% of those tested “subnormal acuity” worse than 0.1logmar
3. 21% had vision below number plate standard (0.17logmar left eye)
4. 54% had subnormal acuity right eye, 45% subnormal left eye
5. 97% rated good vision as important when driving
6. 55% had eye exam in last 2yrs
7. 14% had not had eye test for 10yrs+
8. 87% were in favour of making eye tests compulsory (9% against)

Question 18

Response to study:-

Answer 18

• Underestimation of statistics due to few 65’s+ use motor ways
• Optom suggest results were “over cooked” due to little variation in age/gender

Department of Transport:-
• DoT states drivers are legally required to report do DVLA if vision fail to pass
- Police may request eye test if suspicious faulty vision linked to accident
- DoT do treat vision seriously
- Eye examinations are very important

Question 19

AOP Visual standards:- ROYAL AIR FORCE (Refraction and colour vision)

Answer 19

• 8/2 (6/60 and 6/9 c Rx) with refraction limit +8.00 to -7.00 along strongest meridian
• Colour perception: must pass Holmes Wright Lantern test
- Artificial aids to colour perception not acceptable, i.e ChromaGen lens

Question 20

AOP Visual standards:- ROYAL AIR FORCE (Refractive surgery)

Answer 20

• History of refractive surgery is a bar for all aircrew+specialist branches
• For entry in non-specialist:
- Pre-op Rx not more than +8.00 or -7.00 in highest meridian
- at least 12months lapsed
- Refraction stable (no more than +0.50 change in last 2months)
- Final decision lies with ophthalmic surgeon

Question 21

AOP Visual standards:- ROYAL AIR FORCE (conditions with permanent bar)

Answer 21

• Corneal disorders: Recurrent herpes simplex, corneal grafts, refractive surgery, keratoconus.
• Inflammatory disease: Uveitis or history of uveitis
• Ocular hypertension and glaucoma
• Cataract and pseudophakia
• Retinopathy: Any history of central serous retinopathy, diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy.
• Retinal dystrophies: Retinitis pigmentosa, choroideraemia and related conditions.

• Retinal detachment: Even if successfully treated, this is a bar to entry.
• Neuro-ophthalmic conditions: Any history of paretic squint, optic neuritis or ophthalmic migraine.
• Other conditions may also preclude entry if it is considered that the eyes are unfit for active service.
• Contact lenses
• Aircrew are allowed to fly wearing only approved types of contact lenses. Fitting, supply and routine review is carried out by the Service appointed optometrists.
• No such restrictions apply to Ground crew.

Question 22

AOP Visual standards:- POLICE
(Refraction)

Answer 22

• Unaided - 6/36
• Corrected - 6/12 in either eye and 6/6 binoc
• Near VA - N6 at 40cm
• Refractive surgery:-
- Laser eye is acceptable 6months post treatment, as long as no side effects
- Radial keratotomy, arcuate keratotomy and corneal grafts are not acceptable
• Hx of retinal detachment + Glaucoma not acceptable

Question 23

AOP Visual standards:- POLICE
(Colour vision)

Answer 23

• Monochromatic not acceptable
• Trichromates and Dichromates are acceptable but need to be aware of deficiencies
- May be restricted to certain jobs
•Use of colour correcting lenses not acceptable
• All colour vision tests acceptable - may need Farnsworth D15 test