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Car or motorcycle driving licence holders

If you are a car or motorcycle driving licence holder - you will not need to tell DVLA about your medical condition.

As you have sight in only one eye you may still be able to meet the visual standards for driving set out below. It may take up to three months for you to adapt safely to driving with one eye, so please be prepared for this. In particular your ability to judge distances accurately may be affected and you may not be so aware of objects to each side of you.

Visual acuity standards
All drivers must be able to read a standard size number plate (with glasses or corrective lenses if necessary) from 20.5 metres (67 feet) or 20 metres (65 feet) where narrower characters (50 milimetres wide) are displayed. In addition, the visual acuity (with the aid of glasses or contact lenses if worn) must be at least 6/12 (0.5 decimal) with both eyes open, or in the only eye if monocular. This requirement is specified in law and any person driving on a public highway who is unable to do this is guilty of an offence. You should also be aware that if the police have reason to suspect that a driver is driving with defective vision they can require the driver to take a 'number plate test'. You can keep a regular check that you meet the standards by doing the 'number plate test' yourself.

Visual field standards
All drivers must ensure that they have an adequate field of vision. A field of vision is the entire area that can be seen without moving the eye. To meet the standards for driving your peripheral (side) vision must be a specific width and you must not have any significant defects in the centre of the field of vision. A person with total loss of sight in one eye must not have any defect in the visual field of the remaining eye. If you have any doubt about whether you can meet the requirements, your GP, optician or eye specialist will be able to advise you.

If you suffer from a medical condition in the remaining good eye you may need to tell DVLA, to find out please navigate to the relevant page using the A to Z.

For future reference you may wish to download the vision information leaflet 'A guide to visual standards and driving ordinary vehicles (VIS1)'

• Download 'A guide to visual standards and driving ordinary vehicles (VIS1)' (PDF, 209K)

• Help with PDF files

Bus, coach or lorry driving licence holders

If you hold a bus, coach or lorry driving licence - you will need to tell DVLA about your medical condition.

To tell DVLA please download the medical questionnaire 'V1V' and send it to DVLA.

• Download 'questionnaire V1V' (PDF, 220K)

• Help with PDF files

Where to send your completed questionnaire

You can send your completed questionnaire to DVLA by fax or post.

Fax
0845 850 0095

Post
Drivers Medical Group
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1DF

If you suffer from any other condition please navigate to the relevant page using the A to Z.

• Medical conditions A to Z