Driving and your vision

Your vision is an essential aspect to consider when it comes to ensuring your safety on the road. If you believe that your eyesight may be deteriorating, it is crucial to promptly schedule an appointment with your trusted opticians. As responsible drivers, it is imperative for each and every one of us to have a clear and unobstructed view while driving.

By prioritizing your vision, you equip yourself with a vital tool that promotes road safety. At Evolve, we are committed to providing you with comprehensive resources and reliable guidance. We aim to empower you, enabling you to understand and maintain optimal vision and drive with utmost confidence on the road.

Your vision is incredibly important, and if you suspect that your eyesight may be deteriorating, it is crucial to schedule an appointment with your trusted opticians. As drivers, it is absolutely essential for each and every one of us to have clear vision, as it plays a fundamental role in ensuring road safety.

Your ability to see clearly ahead while driving is not only a valuable asset, but it also serves as a powerful tool in protecting both yourself and others on the road. We understand the significance of maintaining optimal vision and to be able to drive with confidence knowing that your vision is in the hands of professionals who prioritize your safety and well-being.

If you find yourself struggling with your vision, whether due to age or eye problems, it is important to seek the expertise of a specialist. Consulting with a professional will help determine the root cause of your vision difficulties and provide appropriate solutions to rectify them. In some cases, a simple and effective solution may be as straightforward as wearing glasses.

The DVLA requires you to be able to read a number plate from at least 20.5 metres with or without the aid of glasses. Also, the law requires the use of glasses if a number plate cannot be read at that distance. You must have an adequate field of vision. This means all around vision, see your optician about this and they will do a test for you. You must inform the DVLA if your eyesight fades significantly and is becoming a problem while driving. This does not include short or long sighted or being colour blind.

Things that can affect driving and your vision;

• Diabetes – people with this condition can be affected by reduced or even loss of sight completely.

• Heart disease – can lead to double vision and even field of vision being impaired or total vision loss.

• Migraines – can cause temporary partial loss of vision, double vision, blurred vision and see flashing lights.

• Tiredness and medication – can cause blurred vision.

• Ageing – vision deteriorates as we get older typically around the age of 50+.

Glaucoma, cataracts ,diabetes or heart disease all affect your driving and your vision. So, a driver must report any eye conditions to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the UK.

 Eyesight is really important in everyday life.  Therefore, any eyesight problems you may suspect you have, get it checked out by a specialist.

Driving and your vision infographic