Glasses for Driving

• Always wear glasses for driving if prescribed by your optometrist, even for short trips.
• Keep a spare pair of glasses in the car
• If you wear contact lenses, have a backup pair of glasses in the car.
• Wear distance glasses in poor lighting conditions, such as at night, to improve visibility.
• Anti-reflection coatings on lenses reduce glare from headlights.
• Avoid tinted lenses at night as they reduce overall visibility.
• For help with headlight glare, consult your optometrist.

Sunglasses for Driving

• Use prescription sunglasses to avoid sun glare, especially when the sun is low.
• Photochromic lenses may not darken enough inside the car, so consider clip-on sunglasses or prescription sunglasses.
• Avoid category 4 lenses for driving as they are illegal.

Frames for Driving

Choose frames with thin sides to avoid blocking your peripheral vision.

Regular Eye Examinations

• Have regular eye exams to ensure your vision is clear and your eyes are healthy.
• Check each eye individually by covering one eye to detect vision changes.
• Recommended eye examinations at least every two years.

Legal Vision Requirements in the UK

• Must read the ‘6/12 line’ on an optometrist’s chart and a number plate from 20 meters.
• If glasses are needed to meet these standards, wear them every time you drive.
• Notify DVLA or DVA if you can’t meet vision standards or if your condition worsens.

Visual Field

Visual field tests measure peripheral vision. Conditions like strokes, brain tumours, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma can affect it.

Stop driving immediately if advised by your optometrist.

Reporting to DVLA and DVA

Inform DVLA/DVA if your vision fails to meet standards or if a condition affecting your driving worsens.

Reporting does not necessarily mean losing your license.

Common conditions to report include:

Brain tumor, double vision, glaucoma, macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, optic atrophy, optic neuritis, and conditions post-stroke.