Car Insurance with an eye condition

Rodders53

The thing is the condition azoor affects the visual field - as can the condition I have, glaucoma.

When first diagnosed, I reported it via the form, and my visual field was checked by a DVLA-appointed optician and DVLA eventually gave me the all clear. I never lost the use of my licence. Officially I only have glaucoma damage in one eye (possibly with no need to report?) but had raised pressures in both and am being treated in both eyes. So I opted to report.

I reckon the DVLA will get you to have a visual field check and if satisfactory you will retain your licence. If not you will lose it, as you would not be safe to drive with a poor visual fields - you may miss seeing other vehicles, pedestrians etc.,.

[Deleted User]

ComebackGirl wrote: »

I wonder what the full rules when it comes to ocular migraines.
I've only had two in my life and my ophthalmologist wasn't too concerned but if it happened daily i'd not want to drive.

The time interval between OMs varies between a few hours and two years, but they start gradually enough to pull off the road if I'm driving. Why are you under an ophthalmologist, OM is a brain problem not an eye problem?

The only reason I had to ring the DVLA in the first place was because I was applying for a photocard licence and wondered how I should answer the question "Do you have any conditions that affect your eyesight?". I asked the doctor first, but he just said "It's not my job to give medical opinions" and told me to ask the DVLA. He also ignored letters from the DVLA when they wrote to him.

Five months later I got a letter from the DVLA saying that I can reapply for my licence "when your doctor says your fit to drive". Back to square one. I took the letter to the GP but he still refused to decide. Shortly after that I got another letter telling me I could have my licence back, but I still don't know what he and the DVLA said between them. All that was about 9 years ago.

Three and a half weeks ago I sent off an "H1" heart form, and just got a letter acknowledging receipt this morning. They say it will take another six weeks to get my records from the NHS before the assessors decide on my fitness to drive. If the NHS ignore their letters again it'll take six weeks and then some. "There's no point in calling us, we'll write to you anyway when we've made a decision."

Just as well I'm not using my licence at the moment.

[Deleted User]

ComebackGirl wrote: »

Your doctor sounds really unhelpful but I assumed they ask your hospital consultant about your condition?
If you are treated in secondary care then its pointless asking a general practitioner to decide.

Originally I was diagnosed on a Saturday night, by an out of hours duty locum who told me to see a GP on Monday morning. When I went to the surgery the GP told me to go to an optician saying "I'm busy, I haven't got time to examine your eyes". The optician wanted to know why I'd gone there with a brain problem.

I've never been referred to a consultant, at the time of the DVLA debacle, they wrote to my GP asking for my "hospital records". His excuse for ignoring their letter was that I'd never been referred to a hospital.

On another occasion, I had cause to mention that my OMs had recently got a lot more frequent just in case it was relevant. The GP missed the point completely, and just offered me pills for the headaches. When I told her there are no headaches with an OM she just looked at me as if I had told her I'd been for a joyride in a flying saucer.

The duty locum who diagnosed me is the only doctor who has done an impression of someone who actually knows what an OM is.

[Deleted User]

ComebackGirl wrote: »

One thing I learnt when first thrust into being a "frequent flyer" is that some doctors are more helpful than others.
You sound like you have had bad luck with your doctors so far.

Helpful doctors in the NHS? Where?

In August 2012 I was taken into A&E by ambulance, and diagnosed with heart trouble after years of being told there's nothing wrong. In Feb 2013 cardiology denied that I'd been taken to A&E, and carried on telling me there's nothing wrong. After I got back on the bike as the cardiologist told me, I was back on an ambulance again within hours.....