DVLA Visual test

[Christian636]

I did the dreaded Dvla Visual test today and the optician said she was going to send the 3 attempts.is it normal to send the 3, because i did better with the one i wore classes and did very badly with the one without Classes my question is which one of the 3 the DVLA is going to base their judgment on?Can some tell me if the DVLA is going to use the 3 results

[mrswaffle]

I did this test recently and the optometrist told me that she would send the best of my three attempts.

[Dumyat26]

I also did 3 tests last year, with & without glasses. I'm pretty sure that, if you need glasses for driving, then that is the only one DVLA will use.

[Christian636 in reply to Dumyat26]

Thank you very much for your advice,if Dvla are going to use the one without glasses,i will fail in that one.i pray they should use the one with glasses,since the shop i went to refused to send only the good one.

[Tmrcflyer]

Ordinarliy they send only the best results to the DVLA

[Dorsetjohn]

I've had to do the test a few times and I've only ever known the optician send the one result to the DVLA, and that is the one with glasses. Thinking about it I don't know why they do it without glasses, as you say if you need to wear them for driving, what is the point of sending the one without. Also read mine and others posts about the poorly organised tests at some Specsavers, I lost my licence for two months due to a failed test at one of them, and had to get the test done at two other branches, which were fine, and then struggle with DVLA inefficiencies to get my licence back. If you have trouble email [e-mail] straight away.

[JustAmanda in reply to Dorsetjohn]

I’ve had these very conversations. In the end I did none with my glasses because it was agreed that the distance in the dome was neither suited to the reading or distance lens in my varifocals. They also said the rims could obscure the dots on the periphery.

I’ve now had three separate sets of tests and by the third was very anxious because I feel I can see very well and could not understand why I kept being recalled. On the third visit, where I made it known I was anxious, the helpful lady centralised and adjusted the chin rest. I passed! I have no idea why the previous tests were conducted from the left chin rest, when the separate chin rests are designed for testing eyes individually.

I am concerned that different Specsavers, (I travelled much further the third time) seem to conduct the tests slightly differently. On my third test, the assistant could not have been more helpful and reassuring. I’m not sure that those conducting them realise quite what is at stake on the DVLA tests.

[Dorsetjohn in reply to JustAmanda]

Precisely my problem with the first test at Specsavers, the chin rest not centralised as it should be, I complained and they said it was normal, NO it's not for the binocular test ie. both eyes. Cost me untold aggravation, two months without a licence and I live up a mile long steep hill, and another half a mile to a small town, partner doesn't drive and no taxis or buses. Only the other two tests done properly at other Specsavers (who were very helpful) and [e-mail] got my licence back.

[JustAmanda in reply to Dorsetjohn]

The absence of uniformity to prescribed specifications is quite concerning.

We actually have a brand new Specsavers where we live, which wasn’t on the list because it’s so new. I went in there to enquire if they would eventually be doing the tests, and they will. In the process I shared my experience with the helpful co-owner and he told me that not only should the chin rest be centralised but the height should be adjusted to suit one’s sitting position.

I will never know whether that was the reason I kept being recalled but it was highly stressful. I’m not sure whether all the assistants at Specsavers understand what is at stake, or whether some are just trained to test single eyes as part of routine practice, but what I also found concerning is that the DVLA will only rely on the Specsavers’ report, not on one’s consultant’s more rigorous assessment.

I would take the matter further but don’t want to jeopardise my position if I have to go through all this again in three years. What is also upsetting though, is not fully understanding what was going wrong in the earlier tests. When one has a right to access one’s own medical data, there’s an element of this that could be much more transparent!

[Rescobie]

I understood that the best result would be submitted - when I did the test in late March 2023 I had to have 3 attempts due to nerves etc and the SpecSavers assistant told me that only the best result would be submitted. My "score" was 117/120.

[Christian636 in reply to Rescobie]

Did you get your license back?

[Rescobie in reply to Christian636]

I have been given a 3 year medical licence - it means I am restricted to driving vehicles below 3500kg - but at least I can still drive my car and camper van. The decision from the DVLA came relatively quickly but it took a bit longer to get a copy of the field vision test as the branch of SpecSavers I used said they could not give me a copy so I had to make a Subject Access Request to the DVLA. Now I have a copy of the results I can discuss them at my next checkup at the local community glaucoma clinic.

[JustAmanda in reply to Rescobie]

How did you manage to get your score, please? They told me they’re not allowed to tell you anything.

[Rescobie in reply to JustAmanda]

Hi JustAmanda - If the SpecSavers branch you use for the visual field test cannot give you a copy of the test results you need to submit a Subject Access Request to the DVLA. The DVLA SAR Team will then send you "all the available information relating to your request." You will get information on your visual acuities (reading the usual eyesight chart) and a printout of the visual field test. If you look at the printout you will see towards the top information re errors etc. Towards the bottom of the chart there is information on the number of points of light seen and not seen, blind spots and an efficiency score. Hope this helps.

[JustAmanda in reply to Rescobie]

Thank you, that’s very helpful.

[Christian636 in reply to Rescobie]

what part of uk did you do your test, the Space Savers submitted the 3 results for me and I have been told not to drive. I score 115/120 and the worst one was 112/120. I need to do it again in 2 different shows. the spacer saver shop was not helpful in sending the 3 results.

[JustAmanda in reply to Christian636]

Do make sure they centralise and adjust the height of the chin rest. Also determine whether specs help or hinder!

From my perspective the dome is too far away for the reading lens in my varifocals, and too near for the distance lens. It’s also possible that my frames could obscure spots on the periphery. Maybe you could ask to do a trial run for comparison, before deciding what works best for you.

To my way of thinking there should be some uniformity in the way these tests are conducted.

[Rescobie]

I went to SpecSavers in Totnes as I live in Ivybridge, Devon