Motorists across the country could be at risk of a £1,000 fine if they fail to tell the DVLA about certain eye conditions. Official guidance states that if you suffer from an unreported eye conditions and find yourself in an accident as result of that condition you will be slapped with the hefty fine.
The DVLA must be made aware of any condition that affects both eyes or one eye where you only have vision in that eye.
The DVLA must also be told if a GP, optician, or eye specialist said you do not meet the visual standards for driving. Legal visual requirements for driving dictate that all motorists must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away, have no double vision and have a normal field of vision in at least one eye which can be tested by an optician.
All the eye conditions that could affect your driving
Eye conditions you must tell the DVLA about include:
- diplopia (double vision)
- blepharospasm
- diabetic retinopathy (with laser treatment)
- nyctalopia (night blindness)
- retinitis pigmentosa
- glaucoma
It’s important to note that the above conditions are mainly for those who hold a var or motorcycle licence. If you instead have a bus, coach, or lorry licence, then there are even more conditions which you will need to report. This include:
- Visual field defects
- Monocular vision
- Loss of an eye
- Cataracts (if you have an increased sensitivity to glare)
- Macular degenration
How to report an eye condition to the DVLA
You can report any eye condition that you believe will affect your driving by filling in a V1 form and sending it to the DVLA. You can also make a report or find the relevant form online.
If you are a bus, coach, or lorry driver, then you will instead need to fill in a V1V form. A copy of this form can be found and printed out from GOV.UK here.