Declaring keratoconus to the DVLA

[CrippsCorner]

After 3 months out after my disastrous CXL treatment I feel it's time for me to get back on the roads. To be honest, I've not seen much improvement but, during the daylight I can ignore most of the blur from that eye, and I'm able to drive okay relying on my good eye... night time driving is still a massive no no though.

Anyway, I haven't previously declared my keratoconus to the DVLA, but I think now it's at the stage it is, it's time to do so. So I found the form...

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 106/V1.pdf

There's a couple things I'd like to ask about which others might have answered... do I mention CXL and do I say yes to diplopia?

Anything else I need to do? Really hoping this doesn't bump up my premium too much

[Andrew MacLean]

If you have double vision, then you should answer 'yes' to diplopia.
I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't mention having had Crosslinking on your report to the DVLA. They will want to have permission to confer with your ophthalmologist and that is one of the things that they would discover.

All the best. we have all been through this and for my part I found DVLA sympathetic and understanding. If DVLA acknowledge that you are 'fit to drive' you should also mention this to your insurer: they use DVLA as their standard, so it will have no effect on your policy or premium.

[CrippsCorner]

Thank you, I noticed when filling out for insurance quotes they ask you whether your medical condition comes with any restrictions from DVLA... I guess if it's not meant to have an effect on the premium I can safely say no to this?

I've never been described as having diplopia, in fact I've never heard of it before... but I Google'd it and I assume that double vision is simply something that goes hand in hand with keratoconus? So yes, I get double vision, but only from my keratoconus, it's not a separate issue. Complicated things these eyes, eh!

[Andrew MacLean]

If you have double vision, then you have to answer 'yes' to that question. Not everybody with KC has this effect. If you are in any doubt about this, then consult your eye specialist (optometrist or ophthalmologist). It may be that you have double vision when not wearing lenses, but have good vision without lenses.

The best thing to do is to report to the DVLA that you have KC. They will let you know whether there is anything they want you to do (e.g., take a vision test), they will consult with your ophthalmologist and then tell you if there are any restrictions to your driving. When you have this information from them, you will be able to answer the insurance questions.

[CrippsCorner]

Thanks again, just one more thing I've come across, to answer the question: Cataracts or any Corneal Dystrophies e.g. Fuchs?

I assumed this would be no, after Googling what exactly they can be. However I just came across this,,.

http://www.sdhct.nhs.uk/patientcare/pil ... 2%252F2013

Which states "Corneal dystrophies include keratoconus and Fuch's dystrophy." so... I guess I'm saying yes to this one too?

The double vision is a tough one, I mean, it's not as bad as the images Google reveals on a search for diplopia. But at the end of the day, if for example you look at the arrow, there's clearly more than one of them isn't there? Which is how I see things...

http://www.drblaze.com/img/street-sign.jpg

With contacts it's improved massively of course, and there's no way I'd say I have double vision in my good eye. However, the haze is currently still obscuring the view in my left eye so it doesn't matter if I use contacts or not in there! It's all the same...

[Andrew MacLean]

Hi again, I can see that you are really worried about this. In your place, I'd make an appointment to see my optometrist (hospital or high street). I'd print off the form from the DVLA and go through the issues you have raised.
If your corrected sight is good enough for you to drive then there is nothing to worry about. If your corrected sight is not good enough to drive, then it is better to know. If you were to have an accident when you were driving with sight not good enough then your insurance would be void and you would have committed an offence.
In Scotland all Optometrist consultations are free and the optometrist is a gate-keeper to ophthalmology. I do not know the situation in other UK jurisdictions.

[CrippsCorner]

I'm very friendly with my optometrist so sent her an email today, hopefully she can confirm a few things for me... I have an appointment booked in April but ideally I want to be back on the roads sooner!

[MattD87]

Reading this with interest. Hope your optom comes back favourably soon, but I guess it's always safer to declare everything and seek their advice.

I've not declared my KC to the DVLA - was diagnosed back end of last year and am due for CXL on my worse eye in under two weeks. I don't wear contacts or glasses as I can see fine with my right eye, 20/20 according to the CXL consultation letter (slightly more difficult to drive at night, but there's not much problem really).

I suppose I should be declaring it, considering treatment is coming up on one eye? Even though this first op wouldn't effect the vision in my right eye which is well above the legal standard required.

The caveat to this is about a month ago someone clipped the back of my car on the motorway, and I've recently had it repaired under his insurance - would declaring now cause any problems in this respect?

[CrippsCorner]

Just an update here... received a letter back from the DVLA saying everything is fine and I won't lose my licence (phew) but they didn't give me another form to fill out or ask for any additional infomation! Strange.

[Loopy-Lou]

I wonder what happens when corrected vision is good enough but uncorrected is not and we're talking about lenses without glasses as an option? Who's liable if your lenses/eye has a wobbly on the road and you're temporarily in the not suitable for driving category when that happens?
Would the optom declare that, would the DVLA accept it, or would it entirely down to the driver, who takes responsibility if it goes pear shaped?