Driving License

[Andrew MacLean]

When my vision deteriorated rapidly in 2003, I contacted the DVLA and notified them that I'd not be driving for some time, due to loss of sight.

I shall today collect my new glasses, with the expectation that these will restore driving vision (6/9 with part of the 6/6 line). I have written again to the Drivers Medical Group at DVLA asking for my license to be restored.

Does anyone have any idea how long this is likely to take?

Andrew

[John Smith]

Hello Andrew,

I'm just going through the same procedure now. I downloaded the "eye problems" form from their website to speed things up a little, but they'll post you one otherwise.

Since posting my form to them, it took about 3 weeks for them to reply, telling me that I would be contacted by my local driving test centre to arrange an eye test. That was a week ago, and I'm still waiting.

[Sweet]

Hey there

I went through the same thing this year when i lost a lot of eyesight and had to declare it. My optometrist wrote to them as well, and within three weeks i had a letter from DVLA with details for the nearest centre to me that does visual acuity tests for driving.

You can then contact them and arrange an appointment. As DVLA is sending you for one, you do not need to pay as the opticians get paid by DVLA directly.

A few weeks later DVLA sent me a letter saying i had passed, although i did already know that as i had asked and been told that i only missed one light. My driving licence was sent really quickly after that.

I have been told that if my eyesight gets worse again that it is not up to my optometrist to say anything, although they can do so if they wish, but that it is at my own discretion to contact DVLA and inform them. Obviously you need to do this, as you are not insured if anything should happen. I was also told that they will not send me for regular tests unless it is brought to their attention that i may not be fit to drive, so you do need to keep a check on that yourself!

Hoping everything goes well with you!

Love Sweet X x X

[John Smith]

Blinkin' typical!

Here I am waiting for the DVLA, and I get a bit of a relapse. Very early this morning my vision was as per normal. After going back to bed and waking up again vision is very poor. If I wasn't already aware of having a rejection episode and taking loads of steroids, I'd be down at casualty asap!

Oh well, c'est la vie!

[jayuk]

John

What do you do when you have these relapse?...get straigh onto Maxidex?.....at what dose?...I am assuming you also follow this with a visit to casualty? or is that not necessary?

How long do these lapses last?

Thanks mate

J

[Andrew MacLean]

John, let us know how things went at the hospital.

[Rob Armstrong]

When I reached the point that I was no-longer able to drive, I was merely told not to by my hospital.

Although I had a license, I did not own a car and so had not actually been driving anyway.

That was probably why it was never done officially through the DVLA.

Anyway, having (finally!) finished Uni a few weeks ago, I was at the Job Centre having an interview and the topic of medical conditions came up.

I mentioned my KC and the person interviewing me wanted to know how it could limit my capability to work. I mentioned how I still wasn't able to drive, and was told that the local transport authority (Merseytravel in my case) apparently issue free travel passes to people who are unable to drive due to a medical condition.

She had made use of the scheme personally, as for a period she was not allowed to drive due to epilepsy.

Apparently the only condition is that you have had to return your license to the DVLA on medical grounds.

She mentioned it was a simple process to get your license back.

She told me I should still look into it, even though I am (thankfully) MUCH better these days following my graft.

I wish I would have known about this scheme when things were really bad and I was on DLA etc, and making frequent trips to hospital appointments. I probably would have easily qualified, and it would have helped a lot.

Anyway, I doubt this free travel pass scheme is unique to my area, so maybe some other people on here would find it useful.

Rob.

[GarethB]

Access to work can also provide help with transport, when I was getting ready to return to work last year I had to overcome public transport.

A one way trip to work by car is 40 minutes, public transport is three hours made up of 3 bus journeys, two train rides and 30 minutes walking! The job centre said if I needed it, access to work would be able to help with a driver getting me to work and back.

Just because we are unable to drive does not mean our capacity to work like anyone else is reduced. Thankfully more job centres are being more considerate.

Regards

Gareth

[Andrew MacLean]

Congratulations on your degree, Rob.

Actually, people with KC may also qualify for "access to work" equipment. this ensures that people with a visual handicap do not suffer any disadantage in the work place.

I have a video magnifyer and a computer tht reads my eMail to me.

I also have a free travbel pass, but will return this when I get back from vacation in a couple of weeks.

Andrew

[John Smith]

I've dug up the relevant rules for giving concessionary or free travel to those with imperfect vision:

17. "Blind" means having a high degree of vision loss i.e. seeing much less than is normal or perhaps nothing at all.

18. Blind people can register with their local council. For this to happen, a consultant ophthalmologist (eye specialist) must have completed a form and submitted it to the blind person's local social services department. In general terms a person can be registered as blind if they cannot see (with glasses, if worn) the top letter of the eye test chart (used by doctors and opticians) at a distance of 3 metres or less.

19. Some people who can read the top letter of an eye test chart at 3 metres, but not at 6 metres, may still be eligible for registration as blind if their field is also severely restricted. Only being able to read the top letter at 3 metres is sometimes referred to as 3/60 vision: the person can see at 3 metres what a person with normal vision can see at 60 metres.

20. "Partial sight" is a less severe loss of vision. Partially sighted people can see more than someone who is blind, but less than a fully sighted person.

21. A person can be registered as partially sighted if they have a full field of vision but can only read the top letter of the eye test chart at a distance of 6 metres or less (with glasses, if worn). However, if they can read the next three lines down at the same distance, but the field of vision is either moderately or severely restricted, they may still qualify for registration.

22. The Department advises that permits should be issued to people whose sight is so impaired that they would be able to register as blind or partially sighted. For both blind and partially sighted people, however, registration is voluntary. It is recognised that local authorities are unlikely to have the expertise to assess applicants so, for the purposes of the travel concession local authorities may, where a person is not on the local authority blind and partially sighted register, require evidence that the applicant is registerable as blind or partially sighted from an eye specialist, for example, an optometrist.

See this link for more details.[/url]