UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

can anyone tell how they cope with driving with KC as im just learning and am worried about the affect it may have. i had an op in my left eye nearly 2 years ago and recently i started to see clearly but now my right eye is showing the same signs.

Charl

Welcome to the forum!

In order to drive in GB (the rules are different in Northern Ireland, so this really does mean GB and not UK), you have to be able to pass two tests: You have to be able to see to a level of better than 6/12 and you hve to be able to pass a 'field of vision' test.

They test your eyesight by asking you to read a number plate at a prescribed distance (I used to know this in Yards, but Metres mean nothing to me).

If you need a field of vision test you may have this done in the hospital or either at the driving centre or an optician may administer it.

So some questions: How good is your CORRECTED vision?

Do you have sight in both eyes or just on one?

If the answer to the first question is less than 6/12 then you probably shouldn't be driving. If the answer to the second question is that you cans ee just out of one eye, you probably need to ask your optometrist about a field of vision test.

Either way, you'd probably be wise to let the DVLA know that you have Keratoconus, give them the name of your ophthalmologist and the hospital where you are seen.

You'd probably be wise to let your insurance company know too.

Andrew

By law we need to inform the DVLA and our insurers of any sight disability. If like me you get good correction in atleast one eye most insurers treat KC like shortsightedness. You are coverd to drive as long as you are using your sight correction as prescribed.

I drive most of the time sighted in just one eye and even passed the Institute of Advanced Motoring test sighted in just one eye. At that time my right eye met all the criterea to be classed clinically blind.

As Andrew says, as long as you have at least 6/12 vision in one eye, can read a number plate with standard letters at 20.5 m and pass the visual field test, there is no reason why you can not drive.

The basic rule we all follow is that if we are concerned about our level of vision on a particular day we play it safe and let someone else drive of use public transport.

Hey Charl!

I was in the same position a couple of months ago but i am glad to say that my KC has not prevented me from obtaining my provisional licence . I had to fill in a form and get an eye test from the optician but i passed (even though i have a note taker 4 lectures at uni!) So far i've had 2 lessons and have managed to A) Start the car (a major achievement!!! lol!) and B) Avoid colliding with other drivers (though i did have to be told to stay on my own side of the road!) but i think my short comings on the road are more to do with me and less 2 do with the KC! It really is an amazing thing to do - i can't wait to be a fully fledged legal driver - i just have to convince The Bank of Mum and Dad to buy me a car

Good Luck and God Bless
Ems x

Now, Emma Marie the manages in those banks can be really hard to persuade. My daughter always spoke first to the dad branch of the bank. it seemed to make things easier.

yes through my various attempts at requiring money i have found that the bank of dad does usually work far better than the bank of mum, the bank of mum pays out in less amounts and requires payback the bank of dad lets me have an limitless overdraft - i wish!

Wow!
I always found the bank of both mum and dad closed at all times with out of order signs on the cashpoint machines.
I however did find it very easy to convince mum that she really could do with a new car and even gave her a valid solution as to what she could do with her old one

Good luck driving.

Tom

Tom. Life is different for women!

Did you hear about the american woman who bought herself a Harley as her 40 th birthday present. her sons kept borrowing it, if one of them wasn't away posing on mom's motorcycle, the other found an urgent reason for taking it away.

She phoned the HD dealership and asked for help. The manager told her that he had a man-proof security protocol for Harleys. She took her bike to the shop amnd left it while she went to the school where she was a teacher.

Come 4.30 she was back at the shop to collect her bike. The manager took her to where it was standing, gleeming in its bright new coat of pink paint.

Her sons suddenly developed a healthy respect for their mother's proprietorial claims to the HD

Andrew