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Drivers could face fines of up to £1,000 from the DVLA if they fail to report a health condition affecting their eyesight.
Official guidelines highlight that drivers who operate a vehicle with an undisclosed eye condition and subsequently become involved in an accident could be fined. This is due to the requirement for the DVLA to be informed of any condition impacting both eyes or, in instances where the driver has vision in only one eye, the remaining eye.
If a GP, eye specialist, or optician has advised a driver that they do not meet the standards for driving, then the DVLA must also be informed. In the UK, it’s a legal obligation for drivers to be capable of reading a number plate clearly from a distance of 20 metres.
Moreover, drivers should not experience double vision and should maintain a normal field of vision in at least one eye. This can be verified by an optician. Any other eye condition that could potentially affect your driving will also need to be reported to the DVLA.
Full list of eye conditions that need to be reported
A range of eye conditions must be reported to the DVLA. If you have a condition that affects your vision for driving and it is not listed below, you should still get in touch with the DVLA to determine if it needs to be officially reported.
Official guidance lists the following conditions as needing to be reported if you are operating a car or a motorcycle:
- retinitis pigmentosa
- diplopia (double vision)
- nyctalopia (night blindness)
- diabetic retinopathy (with laser treatment)
- blepharospasm
- glaucoma
Additional conditions if you drive a bus, coach, or lorry
If you are driving a bus, lorry, or coach, you will also be required to report the following conditions:
- Loss of an eye
- Visual field defects
- Cataracts (if you have an increased sensitivity to glare)
- Macular degeneration
- Monocular vision
Drivers can report any eye condition that may affect their driving by filling in a V1 form and sending it to the DVLA. Alternatively, you can make a report or find the relevant form online.
For those who drive buses, coaches, or lorries, the requirement is to complete a V1V form. This form can be found and printed from the GOV.UK website here.
