Wearing glasses for DVLA test

[Jazzers]

Hi I have been doing the supersavers / DVLA Esterman test for the last 6 years, achieving a 1 year licence extension each time. I normally take 3 x tests - 2 with my driving glasses (varifocals) and one with no glasses and I have been discussing the test with my own optician regarding the best glasses to wear for the test. My problem is peripheral missed points rather than central vision and my optician has advised that it is best to wear reading glasses due to the short distances involved in the test machinery. Having tried this in my own opticians, I did actually score better with reading glasses than I did with my usual varifocals that I drive with or by wearing no glasses at all.

I wondered if anyone else had experimented with this or taken the supersavers test with reading glasses. I can't see that there would be a problem wearing reading glasses as you are allowed to take the test without any glasses, however I do seem to recall being asked before each of the tests "are these are the glasses you drive with". I'd appreciate any views or experiences on this topic before I do my next test.

[Decorator123]

hi not sure if this is what you are looking in a answer But when I did my test I scored better without glasses on they it was the frames of my glasses, being too thick and not getting a full spectrum of vision ended up with a 5 years driving license 3 and a half more years before I take it again

[Dumyat26]

After 10 years of tests at Specsavers my experience is being offered 3 or 4 tests with and without glasses. My understanding is that the DVLA test is only concerned with central vision, ie an "envelope" shape.

[dillydream]

I wondered about this. I accidentally took my reading glasses instead of my driving glasses to my dvla test and the lights were much clearer. I have driving glasses with a slight prescription and an anti glare coating as I regularly drive at night on country lanes against commuter traffic, suggested by my optician. My distance sight is actually ok for driving. Interesting that your optician suggested using the reading glasses and I too would appreciate the views of others.

[JustAmanda]

Sadly, you’re asking a general question to people who will each have very different prescriptions. I guess it depends what sort of prescription you have.

I too, wear varifocals and decided the distance in the dome corresponded to neither my reading lens or distance lens. My frames are also quite dense, though probably typical of today’s styles, so I was unsure what they might obscure. In the end I didn’t wear my glasses and received a three year licence. As I was 77 it would have to be renewed automatically, anyway.

I think it depends on your prescription, so maybe doing it with and without would be your best option. I think the most important thing is to have the chin rest well positioned and be relaxed in a “helpful” environment. If you feel anxious, tell them because they should be able to put you ease. Personally, I think there’s too much variation in people’s Specsavers experience.

[Jazzers]

Hi and thanks for taking the time to reply. One of the things DVLA look for is a 120 degree field and I seem to be on the limit, hence my interest in maximising clarity - particularly for peripheral vision. I think that wearing a single near vision lens (effectively reading glasses) will work best, based on my "trial" at my own optician, but obviously these aren't the glasses I would wear to drive and I'm hoping I don't get a pushback from specsavers as they aren't "the glasses you usually wear for driving". As I said before, I can't see a problem as you are allowed the test without any glasses as you are only testing visual field in the esterman test and not visual acuity.

[Hula48 in reply to Jazzers]

I recognise all of this all too well! I have been off the road for almost a year with a detached retina on top of my glaucoma. The eye specialist advised me to wait till I felt my eye was healed, then go to Specsavers for new specs, explaining the situation, then take their test, then phone him and I'd also need to do a test for him at hospital, which would hopefully be OK to send to the DVLA. Now I've discovered about coffee making my vision blurred, I feel almost ready to start the ball rolling... once the friend who drives me around comes back from holiday (no public transport here and the nearest Specsavers is 26 miles away. The next one 40 miles...) Wish everyone having similar problems good luck... just keep trying.