Optometry & the LAW

Question 1

Standards of Vision for Driving

Answer 1

You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1st September 2001 from 20 metres.

Question 2

What is the Standard Vision?

Answer 2

You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.

Question 3

Lorry and Bus Driver Vision Standards

Answer 3

You must have a visual acuity at least 0.8 (6/7.5) measured on the Snellen scale in your best eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) on the Snellen scale in the other eye.

You can reach this standard using glasses with a corrective power not more than (+) 8 dioptres, or with contact lenses. There’s no specific limit for the corrective power of contact lenses.

Question 4

Lorry and Bus Driver Visual Field Standards

Answer 4

You must have an uninterrupted horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees with an extension of at least 70 degrees left and right and 30 degrees up and down. No defects should be present within a radius of the central 30 degrees.

Question 5

If you do not meet the Lorry & Bus licence standards…

Answer 5

You may still be able to renew your lorry or bus licence if you can’t meet these standards but held your licence before 1 January 1997.

Question 6

Data Protection Act 2018

Answer 6

Sets out the lawful grounds for the processing of special category personal data WITHOUT consent of patient if the circumstances justify it – where it is in the substantial public interest to safeguard children and individuals at risk.

Question 7

What does the Data Protection Act 2018 State:

Answer 7

This condition is met if—

The processing is necessary for the purposes of:

• Protecting an individual from neglect or physical, mental or emotional harm; or
• Protecting the physical, mental or emotional well-being of an individual.

The individual is:

• Aged under 18; or
• Aged 18 or over and at risk.

Question 8

Sharing information Law

Answer 8

Schedule 8, Section 35(5) of the Data Protection Act 2018

Conditions for sensitive processing

Clause - Safeguarding of children and of individuals at risk