Eye conditions and driving
If you have a bus, coach or lorry licence
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.
You need to tell DVLA if any of the following apply:
- you have a certain type of eye condition that affect one or both eyes
- you do not meet the visual standards for driving
- you’ve been told you may not meet the visual standards for driving by a GP, optician or eye specialist
If you only have sight in one eye, you still need to tell DVLA.
Eye conditions you need to report
The eye conditions you must tell DVLA about are:
- blepharospasm
- cataracts (only if you have an increased sensitivity to glare)
- diabetic retinopathy (with laser treatment)
- glaucoma
- loss of an eye
- macular degeneration
- monocular vision (sight in one eye only)
- nyctalopia (night blindness)
- retinitis pigmentosa
- visual field defect
The visual standards for driving
You should meet the standards if you:
- can read a number plate from 20 metres away
- have no double vision
- have a normal field of vision in at least one eye (your optician can test this)
If you’re not sure if you meet the visual standards for driving, you should get advice from your GP, optician or an eye specialist.
How to tell DVLA
You should fill in form V1V and send it to DVLA. The address is on the form.