PSV eye sight requirement

sevenhills

DB1904 said:

sevenhills said:

DB1904 

You may not for a vocational licence only functioning on one eye. 

I have been driving the same type of vehicles since I started this job over ten years ago. I had an eye test at that time, it wasn't an issue.
I have had a lazy eye since childhood. Are you an optician, lots of advice on here, but you seem like just a layman.

So when did you get your PSV licence or are you driving on a D1?

D1 only, but there is a requirement for an eye test every two years, but that is not enforced in any way, it should be.

sevenhills

DB1904 said:

Speak to an optician rather than the online info you want to read. 

I am not convinced an optician would know the difference between D1 and PSV, but I would like to know myself 

iwb100

DB1904 said:

Grey_Critic said:

So are you applying for a PSV licence or is it just a rhetorical question? The rules are clear your eyesight must reach a standard even if you need to wear glasses. Actually the same rule applies to all drivers and the ability to read a number plate is not a guarantee that your eyesight is OK.

You need to go back to the optician - whilst it is advised you should have your eyesight checked every two years it is not set in stone.

I for many years went to Specsavers but did not feel they were addressing my problem. I changed opticians and was referred to a specialist - he identified a congenital defect that had gone undetected for years. My prescriptions now address that problem and I keep well clear of Specsavers.

If there is a problem with your *lazy eye* it needs addressing.

On a category B licence if you can read the number plate you eyesight is ok to drive. Your eyesight is OK and legal.

You also need 6/12 visual acuity or better. That’s a legal requirement. 

sheramber

https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules#:~:text=You must have an uninterrupted,of the central 30 degrees.

Lorry and bus drivers

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.

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.

You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects either eye.

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

You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects either eye.

sevenhills

sheramber said:

Lorry and bus drivers

You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects either eye.

I have gone into that, things that they want to know and things they don't.
It's also referring to bus drivers, PSV drivers.
It is strange that drivers that passed their test after 1997 are treated differently. It does throw up anomalies, like taxi drivers needing to do more training than section 19 minibus drivers.

Grey_Critic

 

I am still trying to understand the purpose of this thread. It is titled PSV eye sight requirement - I have asked if you are wanting to obtain a PSV licence which you have not answered. No matter what you think or we say sheramber has posted the vision requirements laid down by the DVLA - you either meet them or not.

You refer to having Lazy eye which is the non-scientific term for amblyopia. It can be treated but I have no idea if that would bring it to the standard required for a PSV licence and only an Opthamologist can advise you on that - so what is the purpose of the question.

sevenhills

I drive a minibus, which I am entitled to because I passed my test before 1997. I don't need to pass a PSV and have no intention to, as I am 60 years old.
I know the eyesight requirements, but not how that relates to my prescription from the optician 18 months ago.
A person with an untreated lazy eye would need to wear an eye patch on the good eye for six months, because the brain ignores the image from the lazy eye, having ignored that image for 50 years the brain would need to be retrained.
I believe I could get good vision from the lazy eye, but the lens would need to be very strong/thick, so they always say there is no point 

theoretica

There isn't a universal relationship between prescription and visual acuity.  And what driving cares about is mainly how well you see.  6/6 is 'normal' but some people naturally see better than that, other people worse, even with the correct glasses.  So similarly some people can see better than others despite having the same prescription.  What matters is which line of the chart you could read easily without your glasses. 

sheramber

sevenhills said:

I drive a minibus, which I am entitled to because I passed my test before 1997. I don't need to pass a PSV and have no intention to, as I am 60 years old.
I know the eyesight requirements, but not how that relates to my prescription from the optician 18 months ago.
A person with an untreated lazy eye would need to wear an eye patch on the good eye for six months, because the brain ignores the image from the lazy eye, having ignored that image for 50 years the brain would need to be retrained.
I believe I could get good vision from the lazy eye, but the lens would need to be very strong/thick, so they always say there is no point 

Then ask the optician how the figures on the prescription compare to the DVLA  figures.

Bare in mind it is your responsibility to ensure your eyesight meets the requirements and if you were involved in an accident  and your eyesight was found not to meet the requirements you would be  in trouble.

A local case to me resulted in the police checking with the driver's optician and finding out tht he was not wearing the spectacles he hd been prescribed.  Sadly, the result was the death of himself and two others.

Grey_Critic

***I know the eyesight requirements, ***

As sheramber says ***it is your responsibility to ensure your eyesight meets the requirements.

So you intentionally ignore the rules -so the purpose of the thread is a touch of Conscience!!