Any advice on the process of appealing the DVLA decision?

Can anyone share their successful experience of getting t heir licence back following an unsuccessful binocular field vision test at SPECSAVERS?

The letter explains I have three months to submit evidence of a visual field test from an independent optometrist, but I have been told the DVLA are unlikely to accept the result.

Is it worth contacting my ophthalmologist to ask her to submit evidence, as when I asked her assessment at my first review with regard to the VFT, she suggested it was a necessary part of the follow - up, but that I would have no issues?

[Longwalks3]

Hi there, I too have had my licence revoked by DVLA (a year ago). I do have a lot of damage to both optic nerves but at the time of the test I was in the middle of a lot of surgical treatment and my eyes were in a really bad condition as the drops I was on were causing a lot of blurriness. I accept that my vision may not be adequate for driving but I do feel that the timing of my test was unfortunate. I have now had a cataract removed from my right eye and am due to have the one in my left removed on Dec 10th. Already my vision is much improved and I would be really interested to see if I could pass the DVLA field test now. Of course, I won’t be given the opportunity. Does your hospital consultant support your appeal? I believe that is important. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

[rhys1234 in reply to Longwalks3]

You need to take this in stages.

First , in your situation, I would ask at your Specsavers ( where they did the test for Swansea ) if you can pay them privately to conduct a Visual Field Test just the same as they do for Swansea, so that you can have an independent assessment as to how many of the light flashes you miss.

Then, if they will do it, book that in for a two weeks or so after your second cataract op.. [ Ask the doc's advice that does the cataract how long it takes to get optimal vision post the op. ]

IF, following the new test, the result is that your vision is safe for driving, then at that stage you could re contact Swansea with the new info and ask them if they will trigger the process for a completely new assessment at Specsavers.

I believe ( from memory ) that any appeal against a Swansea cancellation of DL is to the local Magistrates' Court. But that any such appeal is time limited ~ and you have now gone way past the time allowed for appeal from the original Decision.

THUS, you now need to engineer a new Test so that if the new Decision is still to refuse DL you start the clock again for appeal [ not that you would want to appeal if the result honestly is that your vision makes driving unsafe ].

[Hidden in reply to Longwalks3]

I followed up your question : Does your consultant support your appeal? A very useful tip. My next review is after my DVLA deadline, so I rang the department, where the secretaries were fielding my questions. Initially, they suggested I would receive a more detailed report from my diagnosis within a week. As it had not been received, I followed it up when I detected some stalling comments and finally heard that the department does not support patient appeals to DVLA, as they could be liable in the event of a later road incident. I reminded the department that my post diagnosis discussion fell well short of the N.I.C.E. guidance on Glaucoma Diagnosis and that due to an absence of information, I had not been able to plan my life; such as leaving my current work, which is not on a bus route, researching care homes for my mother who is miles from public transport and I had bought a new car. I have now received a detailed report supporting my appeal. I think departments are less familiar with supporting younger patients and should review their practice in light of the guidelines from N.I.C.E.

[Icanstillsee in reply to Hidden]

Fresco Paddler. Can I ask if your appeal was successful? I have just received a must not drive notice after a failed Specsavers test, but I can’t find out what the results were from the test. I was wondering of your outcome.

[Hidden in reply to Icanstillsee]

Hi, I am delighted to say that my appeal was successful. I paid to do the VFT at another branch of SPECSAVERS which allowed me to do the test with and without glasses. I had practised a similar test at my optometrist, at my expense and I purchased a pair of rimless glasses, at great cost, so with encouragement from the operator at another SPECSAVERS, I provided two positive VFTs, on separate occasions. My driving licence was revoked for 4 months and with support of my MP, I was issued a 5 year medical licence, but it was not possible to appeal for my D1 (entitlement to drive a minibus). In my opinion, I needed to become familiar with the test, so the outcome was not an assessment of my vision, but of my ability to comprehend instructions and to remain focused in a noisy corridor - not an ideal environment for an assessment which has financial consequences! Don't give up. Obviously, none of us want to put ourselves or others at risk, but we deserve a fair assessment of our vision before a life - changing decision is made. Good luck.

[Hidden]

Hi. Sorry to hear you had problems with your DVLA test. Did you get copies of your results? I've attached a link to the government webpage that explains what defects are acceptable You'll find them under 'Minimum standards for field of vision – all drivers'

gov.uk/guidance/visual-diso...

If I were you I would definitely have another go. I would not wear my glasses inside the machine, you don't need to focus on anything just see the lights and you don't want the frames to obscure the lights. I would also make sure I pushed my mask as far down my nose as possible ,so as to avoid it blocking any lights. Ask for copies of the second test to check the machine was set-up correctly. It should only flash the 10db lights (brightest ones). At my test in Specsavers the operator said I 'would see lights of different intensities,' and when I pointed out to him that was incorrect, that they should all be the same he hurriedly reset the machine.

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I, too, was told they would be of different intensities. Thank - you.

[Longwalks3]

I’m having my second cataract operation tomorrow morning so once I am over that (in the new year) I will review my situation and decide whether to go forward with an appeal. Thanks to you and Redhead1969 for all the info.