Eye conditions and driving

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If you have a car or motorcycle 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 must tell DVLA if you:

  • have a certain type of eye condition that affects both eyes (or one eye when you only have vision in one eye)
  • have been told you may not meet the visual standards for driving by a GP, optician or eye specialist

This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The eye conditions you must tell DVLA about are:

  • blepharospasm
  • diabetic retinopathy (with laser treatment)
  • diplopia (double vision)
  • glaucoma
  • nyctalopia (night blindness)
  • retinitis pigmentosa

If the condition only affects one eye and you have sight in both eyes, you only have to tell DVLA if you:

  • do not meet the visual standards for driving
  • have been told you may not meet the visual standards for driving by a GP, optician or eye specialist

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 report your eye condition online.

If you have a condition in one eye and another condition affecting your other eye, you need to fill in and send form V1 to DVLA. The address is on the form.

Report your condition online

You can also use form V1 if you cannot use the online service.

There are more conditions you need to report if you have a bus, coach or lorry licence.

If you need an eye test

If you report a medical condition that affects your vision, DVLA may refer you for an eyesight test with their contracted optician. You do not have to pay for the test. 

DVLA then considers all medical evidence provided as part of a driving licence application, including the result of the eyesight test. 

If you choose to get your eyesight test from somewhere else

You can submit the results of an eyesight test done by another optician as long as it includes an ‘Esterman visual test’. DVLA do not guarantee they will accept an eyesight test done by other opticians.

You’ll need to pay for the test yourself.

View a printable version of the whole guide