Return to driving after hemianopia? - Different Strokes

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Return to driving after hemianopia?

8 Replies

The DVLA say that exceptionally, group 1 drivers who have had their licence revoked because they did not meet the field eyesight standard, may be considered for relicensing subject to a number of strict criteria. Has anyone successfully regained their licence?

The document that I'm referring to is Gov.UK guidance "Visual disorders: assessing fitness to drive", 12 March 2016, page 3, "Exceptional cases".

8 Replies
TonyToo profile image
TonyToo

You have :)

in reply toTonyToo

Good day young sir! I have had my eyesight retested and the visual acuity is 6/6 - equivalent to 20/20 - in one eye and 6/7.5 in the other. With 6/6 it means that I can read the bottom line on an optician's chart. However, I'm still blind on the right side with each eye. Confused? It means that my eyesight is fine but my brain doesn't translate the vision from the right hand side of each eye. Weirdly, I could legally drive with one eye if I had 6/6 or 6/7.5 vision and had 120 degrees horizontal vision with no significant issues in the central field of vision.

Having driven the Castle Coombe circuit to the current driving test standard (not going over 44 mph), and the eyesight test, I've applied to the DVLA Medical Group for a driving assessment. It can take up to eight weeks to hear back. This week I was looking longingly at a low mileage BMW 330D at a local dealer but it's best not to get my hopes up.

TonyToo profile image
TonyToo in reply to

Young. lol

People don't believe me when I tell them about that ganglion thingy that mixes up our eyesight. O level biology that was. Clever but weird stuff.

I wish you all the luck in (and out of) the Universe getting the driving back, I'm a week away from having a brand new black on black 150 bhp VW Polo to call Motabilities (first) then mine.

You said something about, about, er lol I forget.

Grumpiness and old age have got a lot to answer for.

lyneh profile image
lyneh in reply to

Hi there, good morning. Can I please ask how you got on with your medical application to DVLA ? My son is 20yr old 8 months post TBI and was left with left peripheral blind spot due to his brain not converting as his damage was to the occipital lobe. With Peli prism glasses his field vision tests have improved with now only a vertical line of 5 missed dots in the under 50 degrees area - just a fail by DVLA standards. We hope to apply at 12 months stage as Exceptional Case with evidence of his improvements and adaptation and support from GP .

Hi visual acuity is 6/5 better than normal in his left eye, 6/10 in his right but together binolcularly he has 20/20 vision with or without the new glasses.

It's so hard to understand all the DVLA guidelines about 20 degrees central vision Versus required 50 degrees left and right Versus clusters etc. Any advice and update on your experiences would be much appreciated

thank you, take care

Lyne

Ellie- profile image
Ellie- in reply to

hi TonyToo I’m new to the site and wondered how you got on with getting your license back I too have hemonopia many thanks

in reply toTonyToo

It''s a funny old world when legislation decides if you are safe to drive. We have a friend with MS who voluntarily gave up driving, but she was deemed safe to use an electric impulse to raise her leg to the brake pedal. I've also just seen a near neighbour walking slowly with two sticks and bent over, to drive a normal manual car. I on the other hand can row 5km on a Concept 2 then do 20 minutes on a Spin bike including brief fast cadence up to 140 rpm. The other two are deemed safe to drive because DVLA do not require reaction time and brake pedal pressure to be tested, whereas I'm seen as unsafe. That''s not to say that I am safe despite 6/6 and 6/7.5 visual accuity, but maybe reaction time should be part of the assessment to drive for all ages.

Of course this post could be a sign of grumpiness in old age! 😊

lyneh profile image
lyneh

My son surrended his license due to TBI, but since found out has left peripheral 'cresent shaped blind spot due to damage to occiptial lobe. We went private and was issued peli prism lens glasses at York VisonCare. Last week we had his second visit to Spessavers . Quick update. See results below from Jan (no peli lens) to April current situation) for Esterman field vision DVLA private tests

10th Jan NHS (no peli lens) many missed dots in left peripheral & 4 cluster within 20 degrees central (some on 10 degree line!) 6 Mar & 11 April SPECSAVERS with Peli lens

10TH JAN 6TH MAR 11TH APRIL

<20 = 4 missed <20 = 0 <20 = 0

<30 = 7 missed <30 = 3 <30 = 0

<40 = 5 missed <40 = 4 <40 = 3

Specsavers have said with this improvement (it will more than likely stay the same from now on he thinks but you never know .....) my son can appeal at 12 months to DVLA as Exceptional Case as still some missed dots in <50 degree area, and see what their medical panel says, more than likely will be referred for driving assessment - so fingers crossed

Any feedback /advice welcome

take care

Lyne

Hunty141 profile image
Hunty141 in reply tolyneh

Hi Lyne,

Had a read of your posts.

Do you have any updates on your son's application for his license?

O :)

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