Eyesight tests

[Jamey]

Quick question, on this page it says that you get three attempts at the eyesight test (reading a number plate from 20 metres).

Is this definitely still the case, does anyone know? Just want to check that page isn't out of date.

Reason I ask is that I've never worn glasses in my life but today I went for an eye test and I've developed slight astigmatism so I now have a pair of glasses for when I feel like using them.

The optometrist says I can see fine without them and I'm definitely above the standard required for driving without glasses, which is good, but obviously things look a little more in-focus when I wear them now.

I was thinking that I probably wouldn't mention it to the Mod 2 examiner and have a stab at the eyesight test sans-specs first to see if I can just pass it that way, then if I don't I can whip out the glasses and try with those on but obviously this plan hinges on you being allowed more than one attempt at reading the registration plate.

I'm also hoping that even if I do have to use the glasses for the eyesight test it doesn't mean that the DSA / DVLA will force me to wear glasses when riding forever more, does anyone know how it works?

Feel free to make "four eyes" type jokes at me now

[Germ]

I'm pretty sure you must state on your licence application whether you need corrective lenses.
If that's NOT on your licence and you then whip out a pair of glasses after trying and failing I could imagine the examiner could fail you for that but this is all just guesswork on my part.

[Jamey]

Fair enough... The thing is I don't actually NEED them, as the optometrist said. But I'm not sure how that relates to the test.

My license application was aeons ago (I've been driving for over ten years, back when I didn't have glasses) so it wasn't technically incorrect

[kerr]

you would have read the letters etc on the board at the opticians, he would have tested you on the equivalent of the legal requirement, chances are you can see a lot further.
20 metres isnt that far dont worry about it, or if you are worried stand in a car park and see how far you can read a numberplate.
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[Jamey]

I'm just trying to see if anyone actually knows what the rules are, so I know in advance.

[Paulington]

You have to mark on your licence application whether or not you HAVE to wear correctional lenses when driving and you HAVE to wear them when driving if you cannot accurately read a numberplate at 20 metres.

Go outside, find a car, stand behind it (don't read the plate), take 20-25 steps away from it (average steps) and see if you can read it without your correctional lenses. If you can then you don't necessarily need them.

However, if your vision is anything below normal (20/20 or 8/8 in the UK) then you SHOULD wear them when driving/riding as that one time you may miss something in your vision due to it being a bit blurry could well cost you your life.

For the sake of wearing them or better yet sorting out a £10/month Direct Debit for daily contacts it's not worth risking it really is it?

It's your decision at the end of the day, but if you do drive with them on (because you have to) make sure you inform the DVLA as you have to inform them of any medical condition that could possibly affect your driving/riding, you will also end up with an '01' code on your licence.
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[Jamey]

As the optometrist said, I don't need them for driving.

That's not to say that it might be a good idea, just that medical opinion is that my normal eyesight is above the standard required for driving without glasses.

I've already tried the walking 25 paces from a car and reading the plate thing, I can do it unaided but it's definitely easier with glasses and I will admit I've made a couple of mistakes (W's that looked like M's and O's that looked like D's etc) but by and large it's ok.

I think I could pass the eyesight test ok without the glasses but I wanted to see whether I had the option of reverting to them if the worst happened and I got to attempt number three. At that point obviously I'd rather take out the glasses than risk failing.

This page has some info but it doesn't say whether you're allowed to attempt it without specs first and switch on attempts two or three.

[ElliotReidMD]

I've always been paranoid about this as when I did my car test, 20 odd years ago, the examiner picked a car that was driving away from me. I got it wrong. He picked another driving away. I got that one wrong. He then said

"if you get this next one wrong you'll fail the test"

Fortunately the next car had to stop for a zebra crossing.

Now I am due to do MOD 1&2, I check my eyesight whenever I get the chance. 21 meters is 25 normal steps for me and I can read a number plate from 32 steps maybe more.

I hope they have a better system for determining a number plate that's 20 meters away now

[95Theses]

When I did the one on my CBT it caught me by suprise because I wasn't expecting them to do one, plus it was infront of everyone else on the CBT and I was first.

I could see the letters clearly, but I had a sudden attack of dyslexia (I'm not Dyslexic) and I knew the letter looked familiar but couldn't remember for the life of me what it was. Took me about 5 seconds to remember it was an 'M' and then I was fine reading the rest.

The instructor did ask me if I needed glasses but I managed to brush it off without admitting I was clearly just a bit of a mental and had forgotten what the letter M looked like

I was fine on my MOD2 because I was expecting it, and I can see why someone who can't read a number plate at that distance should have to wear glasses and declare it on their license.

[Jamey]

Ok, subtly different question now...

Let's say (hypothetically) I decide to wear the glasses for the Mod 2. It doesn't say anything on my license about needing glasses because my provisional license is my full car license and back when I passed the car test I didn't have glasses.

Obviously you're meant to inform the DVLA if your eyesight changes but as my optometrist said today, I'm above the standard required for driving so I haven't done anything wrong as I don't need to inform the DVLA of that.

So in our hypothetical example, when I turn up for the Mod 2 wearing glasses the examiner will look at my license and see that it doesn't mention glasses.

Will he ask me to remove the glasses or allow me to go ahead but note it down and expect me to inform the DVLA afterwards?

Will I end up with a code on my bike entitlement that says I need glasses but no code on my car entitlement? Or do I have to let them know for the car too?

I can see myself (no pun intended) needing to call the DSA and ask in the week tbh.

[Paulington]

The examiner probably won't even notice the licence code.

For all he knows you could be wearing clear-glass lenses as a fashion accessory, the only time they'd notice is if you were NOT wearing glasses and you had the '01' code on your licence.
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[ThatsTheBadge...]

Provided your eyesight is over the required limit without the glasses, you don't have to wear them, it's been said already but hey-ho.

I wear glasses/contact lenses all the time so have an 01 code on my license, I wear contacts for riding, and I've never been asked at any of my tests where my glasses are, I think they just assume that your legal as long as you pass the eyesight test.

[the-barnacle]

maybe a wacky idea, but why don't you go into the street and see how good your eyes are from a distance of say 20 metres?

[Germ]

Just out of curiosity,what's it like wearing a lid and glasses?
I need glasses now but my last riding experience I didn't and I was wondering how much worse misting,condensation is in the winter?

Anything else you need to consider when wearing them?

[ThatsTheBadge...]

[Codemonkey]

See your optician about contact lenses, they usually give you a weeks supply to try out if going for daily disposables. Then wear contacts to the test, they'll not know you're wearing them and you'll pass the eyesight test no probs
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Test Passed 10/05/2011 Current bike: XJ6-N

[kerr]

[Wibbles]

I used to wear glasses in my helmet, they pissed me off so much I went out and got contacts, now I don't wear glasses anymore.

Also, at what point are you supposed to declare you wear glasses? I had mine on in my car test and I have no numbers on the back of my license.

[Jamey]

[Paulington]

It depends on your prescription and where you get them from.

My prescription is quite mild however I suffer from astigmatism in both eyes which means I need specific toric contact lenses.

We have a £25 direct debit set up that goes out monthly to them for my contacts but that's enough for a pair every day.

If you only used them for a few days a week, they will cut the price accordingly.

I also get mine from Vision Express, they are fantastic. !
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[Ariel Badger]

My best advise, stop masturbating and your eyes will stop degenerating.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Wibbles]