I want to give some feedback on the DVLA eye test as the information I got from this forum was invaluable! I went today and I agree that the process is very stressful and not at all consistent!
First of all I overheard the boy ( he was wearing a T shirt with Stylist on the back!!) being asked …Have you done one of these before? He replied no and the girl then explained it to him! So I was not at all confident that he knew what he was doing!
I don’t like making a fuss but I explained it was too important for me to fail because the test was not done correctly! He didn’t know if it was better with my glasses or without and suggested I tried with glasses but if I didn’t pass I could try without! So I asked to speak to the Optometrist.
She was much more knowledgeable but did try to get me to put my chin on the centre rest!
I did the test with my glasses and the only issue was I had 3 false positives! And you’re only allowed 2! But she did assure me that my glasses had been fine. The second one was ‘good’ so she would send that one away to the DVLA.
My advice to anyone doing the test is try to go into the branch to book your appointment and you will get a sense of how professional it is! It certainly wasn’t like my own optician and it would be fine if you were just choosing a pair of glasses but for something as important as this Eye test , it should be much more professional and consistent. I am sure if I had done the visual fields test with the boy, the Optometrist would have been involved to check the results but I wasn’t prepared to start the test unless I was comfortable and satisfied that it would be done properly!
So I now wait for the DVLA letter but a big thank you to those who have posted on this Forum! Your experience and advice was invaluable!
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Jacs123
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thank you for your update. I did mine last week and it was a terrible experience. I was sat in a corridor with another machine next to me and several people talking. After the test I was seen by the Ophthalmologist who confirmed he could not comment on the results at all.
I asked to do the test again and requested that no one else be allowed near me until I had finished.
I was told I had to use the chin rest and forehead guard!!
I have no idea what my results were or how long it will take for DVLA to confirm.
Fingers crossed I pass or not only will I lose my license I will also lose my business and my income!!
These tests are so important and really need to be administered correctly.
Did you get a printout of your results. I've been doing these tests for 10 years. Firstly 3 yearly but latterly annually. It's only fairly recently that I realised the importance of getting printouts for your own records. My understanding is that you are entitled to these but now I always ask before the test starts.
No I didn’t but she told me it was good and she didn’t see any issues! So fingers crossed! I should have asked for a copy! Thanks if there’s any issues I will go back and ask for one!
I hope you get a positive reply from the DVLA. If Specsavers will not give you a copy of your test results you will need to submit a Subject Access Request to the DVLA. It is so important to see what the results show so you have something to compare at the next test.
Having done 3 sets of these tests this year (being re-called twice) I became increasingly stressed by the whole procedure, not least because my own assessment is that I can still see extremely well and consider myself to have a wide field of vision. Many will have read my previous comments.
By the third appointment I:
1. Changed to a different SpecSavers
2. Informed them how anxious I was becoming with so much potentially to lose
3. Chose a SpecSavers with a Henson because, by then, I’d persuaded myself the Humphrey was to blame
As happened I took the third test on a Humphrey again, because they said that was the better machine, but told me I could go downstairs and use the Henson if my result was unsatisfactory. As happened, they were clearly satisfied with my result, so that wasn’t necessary, and I now have my licence.
I’ve pondered what may have caused my first two sets of tests to be inconclusive and have decided the only difference was doing them from the left, unadjusted chin rest. In my successful test she centralised and adjusted the height of the chin rest! I’ll never know whether this was the reason, but having told her how anxious I was by Round 3, she was so helpful and reassuring.
From reading people’s stories I’m very concerned about the inconsistencies and wonder whether all staff realise the importance of the DVLA test being conducted robustly. I’m assuming it’s a big contract but wonder whether all those performing the tests are aware of the difference between testing eyes separately or together. The machine is set up to test one eye at a time.
Personally, I don’t want to be the one to challenge the DVLA because I’ll have to retake these tests in three years, but there needs to be greater uniformity and understanding. I’m just not sure how we, the ones being tested, can influence that, other than by letting each opticians know on the day and by ensuring the chin test is suited to our requirements. And, yes, glasses, may be a factor too, but as everyone’s lens are unique, I suspect that will be different for each of us. I did my successful test without, as my variefocals are designed for reading a book and for distance, and the dome doesn’t correspond to those distances.
Could glaucoma UK liaise with DVLA and Specsavers to generate a web page that can if necessary be printed and given to the local Specsavers to explain the right to receive a copy of the results generated?
It should be done by an Optometrist not by the staff who can help you chose glasses etc. It is too important to be done by untrained or unqualified staff. If even the first attempt is not done correctly, that’s one attempt gone and stress levels rise!
My strong advice is don’t start the test until you are happy and comfortable with the set up. The DVLA letter says that!
I was ready to walk out and rearrange the test at another branch of Specsavers rather than fail because it wasn’t done properly!
Agree with everything said here. Just done a Google search on Specsavers. They are based in Guernsey. The CEO is John, the son of Doug and Mary Perkins who co-founded it all. Apparently, it is run as a type of franchise. I'm assuming that gives each shop some autonomy.
Nevertheless, the contract with the DVLA must specify certain conditions. I would love to know what it says about training.
In my test, one the staff started to use a loud machine just behind me. I complained and was given another crack at it. But it is such a stressful test with such serious consequences, that messing about like that is cruel.
I agree with all this, it is essential that any machines/tools used are aligned properly and used by properly experienced staff. Otherwise, the readings can be misleading or are not accurate. This applies to all the tools they use from OCT to IOP testing too. I recently had an OCT scan undertaken and it was obvious that the machine was not aligned and when I informed them they said it was OK. The second eye was also aligned in a totally different position to the other eye and the green cross In the middle was all blurred. These results went to a private ophthalmologist who was deciding on glaucoma diagnosis so they were essential in needing accuracy (as they all are). I told him I was not satisfied with them as they were not in my view 100% accurate. Likewise, the thickness of the cornea makes a difference in whether they can add on or take off the IOP score and some staff are not aware of this and so IOP scores can be recorded incorrectly. There can be serious consequences with these inaccuracies as if someone is told to take medications or have operations for no reason this can affect people’s lives and livelihoods. Always challenge if not satisfied, they are your eyes, no one else’s.
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Would anyone be willing to share the past DVLA Group 1 Visual Field Test Results and DVLA response.
Appealing DVLA test results
DVLA Visual Field Test
DVLA field test backlog
