Driving and occupational vision standards

Question 1

What is the visual field requirement to hold an unconditional private license?

Answer 1

Horizontal extent
–> 110 degrees or wider, within 10 degrees above or below the horizontal median
–> Disregard single cluster of 3 adjoining points or vertical defect of single point
–> No significant central field loss within 20 degrees of fixation
–> Cannot be monocular

Question 2

What is the visual field requirement to hold an unconditional commercial license?

Answer 2

• No visual field defects
• Cannot be monocular

Question 3

Can a patient with diplopia hold a commercial licence (unconditional or conditional)

Answer 3

• NO, a person is not fit to hold a commerical license, either unconditional or conditional, if they have double vision when looping up to 20 degrees from fixation
• If the diplopia is beyond 20 degrees of fixation, they may be considered for a conditional license

Question 4

What is the driving standards for monocular patients?

Answer 4

• Private drivers: conditional license may be considered if the horizontal VF is 110 degrees and the VA is satisfactory in the better eye
  –> The health of the eye must be reviewed every two years
• Commercial drivers: uncommon to be granted a conditoinal license –> however same protocol as above would apply

Question 5

What are visual acuity requirements to hold an unconditional commerical license?

Answer 5

• Better eye at least 6/9
• Worst eye at least 6/18

Question 6

What are visual acuity requirements to hold an unconditional private license?

Answer 6

• With one or both eyes at least 6/12

Question 7

What are visual acuity requirements to hold a conditional commerical license?

Answer 7

• Better eye at least 6/9

Question 8

What are visual acuity requirements to hold a conditional private license?

Answer 8

• Better eye at least 6/24

Question 9

How often do private vehicles need to get their vision tested?

Answer 9

• Vision test required on initial application
• Yearly from 80 years of age (unless medical condiiton requires an earlier assessment)
• Road test annually from age 85 for license other than C and R

Question 10

How often do commerical vehicle drivers need to get their vision tested?

Answer 10

• Upon intial application then yearly from 80 years of age
• Public passenger vehicle drivers: every 5 years until age 45, then every 2 years until age 65, then annually
• Dangerous good vehicle drivers: every 5 years
• Driving instructors: every 5 years until age 45, then every 2 years until age 65, then annually from age 65