I've done a couple of posts and enjoyed the past 11 months on a medical licence. I took a new DVLA Esterman test last week, and today I have heard that I have failed and must not drive. This has completely shattered me and I am now really down in the dumps, a small light is an appeal with a new independent Esterman test I will pay for. How do others deal with this news?
mANY THANKS
Hi Ken, Sorry to hear your news. I was devastated when I was notified, months after I took the test, due to pandemic. Initially, I accepted that I would never drive again, so bought a substantial mac, walking boots & obtained a bus pass for those with a disability, so I could catch a bus to get to work. I was a carer for my elderly mother who lived 30 miles away, 4 miles off a public transport route, which meant asking for lifts. Gradually, I did some research and bought rimless glasses, bought practice sessions to become more familiar with the test and asked the ophthalmologist if she considered my VF was impaired. She suggested that it was worth repeating the test. However, if I had any doubt that my vision was so impaired that I could put the lives of others at risk, I would accept the outcome. The only way to deal with my depression brought on by the failure of the Esterman test, was to give myself another opportunity to do the test in the best possible environment, by using another SPECSAVERS. Good luck.
Thanks so much ,I feel better now.
I am soo sorry at your news-bloomin life changing & need confidence in the tests & staff who do them....too important an issue to be blaise about it!!! I dread that happening!!! My heart goes out to you -glaucoma situation bad enough -so sorry!!
AGAIN i THINK sPECSAVERS SHOULD BE MORE AWARE & PROFESSIONAL IN ALL BRANCHES!!!
I again wonder if Glaucoma Society could raise concerns with DVLA & Specsavers on this very important life changing problem!!!
Thanks ,like you I think DVLA should be much more aware about how people are on edge about the test and be more human. I appreciate your reply.
I think we should all contact the admin at glaucoma as I did today -just to try and do something cos after all no one cares if it dont affect them -life hard enough & driving is so important to many people-you want to be assured if you cant drive then its been decided for a genuine reason not just as another customer & move on & youre forgotten! - we have to live with the outcome so it needs to be genuine!! Know I'm off on a tangent but its sooo important in our lives!!!!!!
Best wishes
hi recently I had my VFT at Specsavers and got notification that I failed, I can’t understand the results but was told not to drive. Why can’t we use our own optician’s for the test as it would be less stressful & more relaxed. I can’t understand why I have 20/20 vision yet they say I am loosing my vision yet to me I can see perfectly well. I had a head injury a few years ago when one of the horses fractured my forehead & it’s slightly caved in, do you think it has anything to do with my sight. I have had glaucoma for 6 years now & have had cataract surgery & SLT.
Please see my post after reply from Trish one of the glaucoma admins. I feel for you- really do!!!!!
Thank you for your email. We have been advised by the DVLA that if peoples experiences at Specsavers are unsatisfactory, they need to make the DVLA aware, telling them the branch they attended and their concerns.
They investigate all complaints and speak to the branches directly to resolve issues regarding training etc.,
They have also given us the email to pass onto people glaucomaqueries@dvla.gov.uk
If you want to make us aware with any concerns, it would be best to send it to Helpline@glaucoma.uk as it is covered all the time. We may not be available to answer pm for a few days so best to email us, as this is always covered.
Many thanks
Hello Ken,
If you were only given an 11 month licence by the DVLA, this would mean that you were borderline in reaching the standards expected of the DVLA for people to drive safely for themselves and others. The information Swanlady shared was obtained from the DVLA after we contacted them with concerns on behalf of people who had contacted us with their experiences,
There is the option of making an Informal appeal. You will need to contact an independent opticians to arrange this and pay for it to be done. It would be good if you can obtain copies of your visual field test (VFT). This way the optometrist will be able to compare and advise you whether it is worth carrying on with the appeal or accepting the DVLA's decision. These can be obtained from Specsavers, which has also been confirmed by the DVLA. If this isn't possible, and the branch cannot give them to you, you can get copies from the DVLA.
65% of people who make an informal appeal, retain their driving licence.
Two things:
On my second recall, Specsavers repeated the Snellen test, too, and I was aware that I was struggling with it. They did it on a tv screen no more than 5-6 feet away, and the images were all very square, quite unlike any other Snellen test I’ve ever done.
Prior to that I’d done the test at my opticians and could read all lines, except the bottom, accurately. Last week I was at the hospital for my annual check-up and again, could read all the lines except the bottom line, accurately. It concerns me that Specsavers’ conditions were totally different and that the letters were not the usual shapes I’ve encountered at other opticians, or the hospital. Thankfully, I still passed at Specsavers but was concerned that that tests, and test conditions, vary too much.
Having told that branch that it was my second recall and that I was very anxious and no longer confident, they could not have been more helpful, even with their strange Snellen test. It would be helpful to know whether the repositioning of the chin rest, made the huge difference, but the helpful lady said there was no need to repeat the field test because I’d spotted all the dots. (I know they’re not supposed to give you that information).
Is there any way that Specsavers could give you a guide to testing, including how the chin rest should be positioned; whether one should use spectacles or not; and some sort of commitment to provide consistent test conditions. Even the manner of the person conducting the tests can influence one’s performance. On my successful test, the staff could not have been more helpful. I’m not sure that Specsavers always appreciate what is at stake, and what their role needs to be in providing optimal test conditions, and reassurance. Perhaps it’s time for a testing charter.
Hello Amanda. Specsaver o have a guide on what to expect on their website, which may be helpful. specsavers.co.uk/eye-test/w...
Thank you, but that doesn’t explain the lack of congruence.
I have mentioned on other DVLA posts that any concerns regarding treatment or experiences should be sent to the DVLA, who will investigate and talk to the branch involved. This was conveyed to us directly from the DVLA. The email is glaucomaqueries@dvla.gov.uk
Thank you.
I have posted several times about the variable standards at some Specsaver branches as have several others,so it's worth searching for them here. Briefly I paid for 2 more tests at 2 other branches of Specsavers and appealed, but even then I had to email glaucomaqueries@dvla.gov.uk before I got my licence back. Obviously if you fail the other tests you will have to accept that, and I can only offer my sympathy as I have had 2 months without my licence.
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