GCA and driving licence?

[Pollynolongerinagony]

Do people with the condition GCA have to notify the DVLA , especially if sadly, blind in one eye. For example, if you have Myasthenia Gravis / Ocular Myasthenia, you are instructed to notify the DVLA, and probably your car insurers. I am asking on behalf of my friend. thankyou

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If you friend has monocular vision she should notify DVLA. It won’t stop her driving if she can still pass the sight test with her other eye, check with optometrist - and she feels able to. I waited a few months before I was really confident enough to go out, and my son came out with me first time.....I passed his scrutiny- so I knew I was okay! He’s a hard taskmaster 😳

She should also notify Insurance company stating she has notified DVLA etc -

See attached- gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules

[Nagswoman]

It is amazing just how much sight loss you are allowed to drive with. I vaguely remember reading that you can have zero in one eye and 40% in the other, just as long as you can pass the number plate test.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Nagswoman]

I imagine it depends which 40% you retain! Here one's driving licence must be renewed every 5 years up to 70 and every 3 years after - and you have to do vision and reaction tests as well as declare all medical conditions. Has to be done by an official doctor - and if they fudge the results and you have an accident because of the fudge - they will lose their job and probably career too.

[Nagswoman in reply to PMRpro]

For some reason, I received a document in the post, which went into great detail about eyes and driving.

[Daisyroo]

I have PMR, GCA, Lupus, systemic RA, sjogrens, diabetes and a few other little ‘inconveniences’. I am allowed to drive, however I did not lose any eyesight. I did work for a sight loss charity for many years though and you can drive with only one eye in your head, ergo as long as one eye passes the sight test the DVLA will allow you to drive. However I always list all my ailments on the DVLA form.

[Bcol]

The following is from the Gov.uk site regarding driving and drugs

Prescription medicines

It’s illegal in England, Scotland and Wales to drive with legal drugs in your body if it impairs your driving.

It’s an offence to drive if you have over the specified limits of certain drugs in your blood and you have not been prescribed them.

Talk to your doctor about whether you should drive if you’ve been prescribed any of the following drugs:

amphetamine, for example dexamphetamine or selegiline

clonazepam

diazepam

flunitrazepam

lorazepam

methadone

morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs, for example codeine, tramadol or fentanyl

oxazepam

temazepam

You can drive after taking these drugs if:

you’ve been prescribed them and followed advice on how to take them by a healthcare professional

they are not causing you to be unfit to drive even if you’re above the specified limits

[Pollynolongerinagony]

thankyou