DVLA - when do I advise them.

[Nala2509]

Advice please -

Do I advise DVLA I have glaucoma regardless or do I only advise if I have visual field loss in both eyes? The information I have read seems to differ.

Many thanks

[Hidden]

I agree it is confusing. Glaucoma U.K. did a webinar 2 years ago where a doctor from Moorfields said that it’s only when you have defects in both eyes but others say different. On the DVLA website Glaucoma comes under Visual field defects which again indicates that it is only when it affects your vision and Patient U.K. supports this.

My advice would be to only to report it once the ophthalmologist tells you to; this is what I’ve been told at the hospital anyway. This is important as I’ve had several consultants tell me that I have glaucoma and others that there is no evidence; they seem to use the term loosely. If in doubt ask, only those who are looking after your eyes will know whether you should report. Once you are in the DVLA system for glaucoma, there is very little chance of getting out.

[Nala2509 in reply to Hidden]

thank you, much appreciated. No one so far has told me to report it. I will ask when I see the consultant in January at the eye clinic.

[t55ddy]

my consultant suggested I advise DVLA as I have glaucoma in one eye. My licence was immediately downgraded (max weight now 3.5t from 7) and I am on a one year ‘medical’ license which means I have to take a visual field and acuity test every year to keep driving. Stressful & tedious.

[frankthebank in reply to t55ddy]

Wow that was bad advice, I researched this on the government site, you only need to advise if you have Glaucoma in both eyes.

[Dumyat26]

My understanding, after 10 years with glaucoma in both eyes, is that it is reportable if affects both eyes but not if only one eye.

Go to DVLA website, look under Eye Conditions and Driving. You will find a list of reportable conditions affecting one eye which does NOT include glaucoma, and a list of reportable conditions affecting both eyes which DOES include glaucoma.

My over 70's licence was kept on a 3 year renewal (standard for all over 70's), but reduced to a 1 year licence a couple of years ago.

Overall, based on my experiences trying to communicate with DVLA, best to only report condition when it becomes essential.

[frankthebank in reply to Dumyat26]

You are right, it has to effect both eyes, and for sure you keep these people out of your life until absolutely necessary.

[mrswaffle]

I asked about this when I was first diagnosed and my consultant said there was no need to inform DVLA until he advised me to do so. Nine years later, a specialist told me to let DVLA know and so I did and have now had two of their visual field tests. I don’t find the test itself is any worse than a normal VF, but it’s a nuisance if you live in a rural area, as only certain Specsavers (who have the contract) branches have the right machine, so it has meant a 50 mile round trip for me, each time. Good luck!

[Hidden]

I've read the list of reportable conditions several times now and it appears to me that you only have to report it if you have a diagnosis of glaucoma in both eyes. I ask every time I go to the eye hospital if I have glaucoma in both eyes and I have always been told I have glaucoma in one eye and ocular hypertension in the other. As far as I can see you don't need to report ocular hypertension. The problem is if you get this wrong and you have to make a claim on your car insurance the insurance may be rendered invalid. I think you have to report to your insurance as well.

My eyesight is perfect....always reported as such in the eye clinic.... but the reporting business is a worry.

[frankthebank in reply to Hidden]

Yes one eye is ok, says it on the government site, so no insurance issues. Out of interest though, how it possible to have Glaucoma and perfect vision? I have Glaucoma in one only and have had every drop and tablet on the market, to me it just seems like a hopeless disease that will eventually make you go blind or heavy visual damage. I just can't get my head around how it can be so controlled you have no visual damage. Do you just have extremely mild Glaucoma?

[Hidden in reply to frankthebank]

I guess I was lucky enough to have the ocular hypertension picked up early and treated.... glaucoma developed in one eye during the pandemic when I wasn't getting followed up properly. However, although I clearly have glaucoma from all the tests it hasn't yet affected my vision in any way and I was quickly referred first for laser treatment which didn't work and then for goniotomy and cataract removal which does seem to have worked and I'm hoping that this has either stopped the disease in its tracks or at least slowed down the progression.

[Hidden]

Glaucoma uk website has all the information regarding glaucoma and driving... I've just looked. Unless you are a commercial driver you only need to report your glaucoma if it is in both eyes, but it is a legal requirement to do so and, as I thought, your insurance will be invalid if you don't report it.

[Beecalmed]

The DVLA guidance is you report as soon as you have glaucoma in both eyes. But it’s sensible to get advice from your consultant on this. I wasn’t told at diagnosis so I rang the consultant and asked and they said glaucoma in both eyes means report even though one eye had no sight loss and has pretty perfect visual acuity.

I think you have to see this as DVLA wanting to keep an eye on you as glaucoma is a progressive eye disease. A medical license checked according to likely progression rate just prevents you from driving without realising your vision has deteriorated. I would want to be prevented from driving if I might not see a child running across the road and could kill them. It is that important.

Although the principle of medical licenses is good it’s just a pity DVLA waiting times aren’t better, that spec savers don’t take the tests and there outcones more seriously and that all drivers aren’t encouraged (by law) to have more regular eyesight checks too in order to continue to drive.

I’ve driven behind many drivers that clearly shouldn’t be driving but guessing their fitness to drive is left to there own personal judgement.

Check with your consultant. Glaucoma may not be the only issue with your eyes that complicates your diagnosis. Better safe driver than sorry driver. 👍🏻

[Longwalks3 in reply to Beecalmed]

Well said! I have had my driving licence revoked by DVLA because of my visual fields defects and whilst this is a has been very difficult to come to terms with, I tell myself that driving is not a human right and it would not be safe for me to drive now.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes, it is a legal requirement to inform the DVLA. It is not the consultants responsibility to tell the person to contact them. The onus is on the driver themselves.

I wouldnt recommend waiting for the consultant to tell you. Telling the DVLA does not mean you will lose your licence.

If a person who has been diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes, doesnt tell the DVLA and are involved in an accident, be it their fault of someone elses, they will receive a £1000 fine, their licence would be revoked and they would only be covered 3rd Party.

Regarding your car insurance, you should call them and advise them of your diagnosis. Your premium wont go up.Some insurance companies like to be kept up to date with a drivers medical history, while others are ok as long as you have advised the DVLA.

[Hidden in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

it’s actually in the NICE guidance for glaucoma that consultants should give advice about when to contact the DVLA.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to Hidden]

Unfortunately that is rarely the case.

[Beecalmed in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Yes Trisha’s correct as I wasn’t told to inform DVLA by the hospital at diagnosis either. For my peace of mind I googled the DVLA website to check off my own bat (having family with glaucoma alerted me). I hadn’t had my diagnosis confirmed in a letter yet, so I had to check the hospital as to whether it was glaucoma in both eyes or just ocular hypertension in one .

Suggest this needs triggering automatically once you get diagnosis in both eyes then DVLA are automatically informed. Be a lot safer.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Hidden, From my experience, the NICE guidance isn't accessible to NHS consultants! My diagnosis fell well short of the guidance. I did not realise the possible consequences, so I went on to buy a new car, which I was then unable to drive for 6 months! My temporary loss of licence resulted in some big decisions, e.g. my mother going in to residential care earlier. My diagnosis was at a time when due to the pandemic there were no leaflets and SPECSAVERS were not undertaking the tests. I continued driving for work.

[Nala2509]

thank you everyone for all your advice, much appreciated.

[Dumyat26]

the other thing i should have mentioned in previous post.

if you do have to take a DVLA F of V TEST at Specsavers, make sure you ask for a printout of your results.

They are obliged to give you this although some can be reluctant. It can be useful if you need to appeal or compare with an independent test.

[pigeonCl-HU in reply to Dumyat26]

You are right Dumyat, a printout is very important. Otherwise you have no proof of your results; and we know how things get mixed up, lost, gone.... with digital records.