Take a test with a New Zealand-registered medical practitioner and present a satisfactory medical certificate The equipment at the testing station is quite basic. If you have one weak eye and one very strong eye, where the strong eye more than compensates for the weak eye, you might fail at the testing station test, but pass at an optometrist. The chart below may approximate the power appropriate for over-the-counter reading glasses: Age 40-45: +1.00 or +1.25. Age 45-50: +1.50 or +1.75. Age 50-55: +2.00 or +2.25. Age 55 and up: +2.50. What is a cataract? A cataract is a yellowing and clouding of the lens in the eye due to aging, sun exposure, or sometimes medications and toxins in. Driving test eye test. Every learner driver is subjected to a quick eye test at the beginning of their official driving test which involves correctly reading a number plate on a parked vehicle from 20 meters away. If you get it wrong after 3 tries, you'll fail the entire test immediately.
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To drive in Oregon, you must have a minimum of 20/70 vision in your best eye for unrestricted driving. Similar rules exist for corrected vision, except you need to always wear your corrective eyewear while driving. Some people with worse vision than this can drive, but limitations apply. (Learn More)
Oregon has a program in place so some drivers who can safely drive with special telescopic lenses have the ability to do so. The rules are stricter though, and you will only be able to drive in the daytime unless a doctor says otherwise. (Learn More)
Vision retesting is rare. It usually only occurs when it comes time to renew your license and you are over 50 years old. This is because vision often deteriorates with age.
In some cases, you may be reported for poor driving, which can result in retesting. A doctor may determine you are unable to drive for a variety of medical reasons, including poor vision.(Learn More)
Oregon Driving Vision Requirements
Like every state, Oregon has laws in place to promote safe driving. A portion of these requirements are designed to ensure you can only get your license if you are able to safely remain aware of what is happening on the road as you drive. There is a focus on vision, but hearing is also addressed.
Oregon's vision requirements are reasonable in light of nationwide laws. They require that you have 20/70 vision without corrective lenses to get your license without any sort of restrictions. For context, 20/70 vision means that you can clearly see at 20 feet what somebody with 20/20 vision (unimpaired vision) can see from 70 feet away.
If your best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) is between 20/40 and 20/70, you will be able to receive your license, but you may be restricted to driving in daylight unless a licensed vision specialist argues otherwise. For obvious reasons, if you require corrective wear like glasses to achieve 20/70 vision, you will be required to wear this corrective eyewear while driving.
Put simply, if your best eye's vision can only reach 20/40 visual acuity, you will be able to drive, but your privileges will likely be restricted to daytime driving. This is because that level of vision may not be safe for driving in the dark.
If anything, these requirements are arguably a bit lax. More commonly, 20/40 vision is required in at least one eye to legally drive, with corrective wear being required if needed to achieve that level of vision. Requiring 20/40 vision is viewed by many as a safer option, although Oregon's field of vision requirement of 110 degrees is on par with recommendations.
Limited Vision Condition Program
Oregon has a special set of rules that can allow those with limited vision to drive. To qualify, you must:
- Have visual acuity in your best eye of no more than 20/80 and no less than 20/200 with the best lens correction.
- Not have a diagnosis or prognosis that may result in your corrected vision getting to be 20/200 or worse.
- Have a visual field of at least 120 degrees horizontally and 80 degrees vertically.
- Potentially benefit from a telescopic lens when driving.
The focus of this provision is to allow some people who could safely drive if they were to use a bioptic telescopic lens to do so. These are basically a special type of glasses that work similarly to a telescope or binoculars. They are usually part of a pair of glasses, and you can also look through your glasses in the more traditional manner.
These glasses allow you to briefly look through their telescopic lenses to get a 3x view of important visual details on the road. Most of your driving is still done by looking through your glasses at regular magnification.
This program has some restrictions. It is limited to daytime driving. You will be unable to drive at night unless approved by a vision specialist to do so.
How Often Will My Vision Be Tested?
You will undergo an initial vision test when you first get your license. After that point, Oregon requires people be retested if they are over 50 years old and renewing their license. Sight tends to deteriorate with age, so this test ensures your eyesight is still suitable for safe driving.
Licenses are renewed every eight years in Oregon. The age you'll be at the time of this retesting depends on your license renewal date.
If people in your life believe you are a risk to yourself and others on the road, they can report you as an unsafe driver. Once the DMV reviews the report, they may have you retested if they deem it appropriate. This retesting will include a vision test. Although rare, some people have their licenses suspended immediately if they are an obvious and immediate threat.
Certain laws are in place that obligate medical professionals to report you if they believe you are an at-risk driver. These rules cover many conditions, not just vision problems, but serious sight impairment could be one cause for you to be reported. This will generally suspend your driving privileges, although you can appeal if you believe the report was unjust or an error.
It's important to remember all these rules exist to protect people on the road, including yourself. If you have any reason to believe your vision is bad enough that you fear a vision test, you likely should not be driving. At the very least, you should first talk to an eye doctor.
Driving with serious vision impairment is irresponsible. It could get you or someone else seriously hurt or even killed.
References
Limited Vision Condition Program. Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services.
Department of Transportation: Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division - Chapter 735. Oregon State Archives.
Driving Restrictions per State. (September 24, 2019). American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Driver's License Renewal in Oregon. Borat Media.
At-Risk Driver Program for Medical Professionals. Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services.
Reporting an Unsafe Driver. Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services.
Low Vision and Legal Blindness Terms and Descriptions. American Foundation for the Blind.
Vision Requirements for Driving Safety. (February 2006). International Council of Ophthalmology.
Certificate of Vision. Oregon Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Limited Vision Condition Program: Using a Bioptic Telescopic Lens. Oregon Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Driving With Bioptics. Ocutech.
In good daylight, you must be able to read a vehicle number plate from a distance of 20 metres (or from a distance of 20.5 metres for old style number plates).
If you want to do your own number plate test, when walking down a street or in a car park, 20 metres is about 5 car lengths.
You must also have an adequate field of vision and a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary), using both eyes together or, one eye only if the driver only has sight in one eye.
If you need glasses or contact lenses to drive, you must wear them at all times when driving (see Rule 92 of the Highway Code). It is an offence not to do so, and may invalidate your motor insurance. It is a good idea to keep a spare set of glasses in the glove compartment.
Eyesight Tests
The best way to make sure that you meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving is to have an eyesight test at an opticians every two years, or more often if the optician advises.
You are entitled to a free eye test if you are 60 years or over, or have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma or have been advised by an ophthalmologist that you are at risk of glaucoma. If you are 40 years or over, and have a mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter who has been diagnosed with glaucoma, you are also entitled to a free NHS sight test. You can also receive free eye tests if you receive certain social security benefits.
Any condition that affects both eyes (or the remaining eye if you only have one eye), except long and short sightedness and colour blindness, should be reported to the DVLA (or the DVA in Northern Ireland). This does not necessarily mean you would lose your licence – an assessment of your eyesight will be made.
Eyesight can deteriorate gradually over time, and it can be difficult to realise it has fallen below the minimum standard. For instance, as we grow older our eyes become less able to react quickly to changes in light and we start to have difficulty with colours and contrasts in poor light. Between the ages of 15 and 65 years the time it takes to recover from glare increases from 2 to 9 seconds. This could be one reason why some people find driving at night more difficult.
This video from the Older Drivers' Forum gives helpful advice on driving at night.
Police Roadside Eyesight Tests
The Police can, and do, require drivers who they have stopped to take an on-the-spot roadside eyesight test to prove that they can read a number plate from 20 metres if they are concerned about their eyesight. If a driver is not able to pass this test, they are advised that getting back behind the wheel would be an offence because they have failed to meet the legal eyesight standard.
Driver License Practice Eye Test
The officers can immediately email a request to the DVLA to have the driver's licence revoked and the DVLA can issue a formal revocation notice which could be delivered to the offending driver on the same day. This is known as 'Cassie's Law' in memory of a young woman who was killed by a driver who had failed a roadside eye test but continued to drive while the Police were trying to get his licence revoked.
Common eyesight conditions that can affect drivers
Cataracts
The eye lens becomes cloudy, leads to blurred vision and sensitivity to glare.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Caused by diabetes, results in patches of vision loss and thereby lacks sharpness across the visual field. It becomes difficult to read and drive.
Driving Restrictions per State. (September 24, 2019). American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Driver's License Renewal in Oregon. Borat Media.
At-Risk Driver Program for Medical Professionals. Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services.
Reporting an Unsafe Driver. Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services.
Low Vision and Legal Blindness Terms and Descriptions. American Foundation for the Blind.
Vision Requirements for Driving Safety. (February 2006). International Council of Ophthalmology.
Certificate of Vision. Oregon Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Limited Vision Condition Program: Using a Bioptic Telescopic Lens. Oregon Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Driving With Bioptics. Ocutech.
In good daylight, you must be able to read a vehicle number plate from a distance of 20 metres (or from a distance of 20.5 metres for old style number plates).
If you want to do your own number plate test, when walking down a street or in a car park, 20 metres is about 5 car lengths.
You must also have an adequate field of vision and a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary), using both eyes together or, one eye only if the driver only has sight in one eye.
If you need glasses or contact lenses to drive, you must wear them at all times when driving (see Rule 92 of the Highway Code). It is an offence not to do so, and may invalidate your motor insurance. It is a good idea to keep a spare set of glasses in the glove compartment.
Eyesight Tests
The best way to make sure that you meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving is to have an eyesight test at an opticians every two years, or more often if the optician advises.
You are entitled to a free eye test if you are 60 years or over, or have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma or have been advised by an ophthalmologist that you are at risk of glaucoma. If you are 40 years or over, and have a mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter who has been diagnosed with glaucoma, you are also entitled to a free NHS sight test. You can also receive free eye tests if you receive certain social security benefits.
Any condition that affects both eyes (or the remaining eye if you only have one eye), except long and short sightedness and colour blindness, should be reported to the DVLA (or the DVA in Northern Ireland). This does not necessarily mean you would lose your licence – an assessment of your eyesight will be made.
Eyesight can deteriorate gradually over time, and it can be difficult to realise it has fallen below the minimum standard. For instance, as we grow older our eyes become less able to react quickly to changes in light and we start to have difficulty with colours and contrasts in poor light. Between the ages of 15 and 65 years the time it takes to recover from glare increases from 2 to 9 seconds. This could be one reason why some people find driving at night more difficult.
This video from the Older Drivers' Forum gives helpful advice on driving at night.
Police Roadside Eyesight Tests
The Police can, and do, require drivers who they have stopped to take an on-the-spot roadside eyesight test to prove that they can read a number plate from 20 metres if they are concerned about their eyesight. If a driver is not able to pass this test, they are advised that getting back behind the wheel would be an offence because they have failed to meet the legal eyesight standard.
Driver License Practice Eye Test
The officers can immediately email a request to the DVLA to have the driver's licence revoked and the DVLA can issue a formal revocation notice which could be delivered to the offending driver on the same day. This is known as 'Cassie's Law' in memory of a young woman who was killed by a driver who had failed a roadside eye test but continued to drive while the Police were trying to get his licence revoked.
Common eyesight conditions that can affect drivers
Cataracts
The eye lens becomes cloudy, leads to blurred vision and sensitivity to glare.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Caused by diabetes, results in patches of vision loss and thereby lacks sharpness across the visual field. It becomes difficult to read and drive.
Glaucoma
Loss of peripheral vision. Retinitis Pigmentosa also causes tunnel vision, resulting in side vision loss.
Macular Degeneration
Driving Eye Test Chart
A common eye condition in which central vision deteriorates.
Blindness
The loss of all useful vision, although shades of light and dark may still be visible.
Driving Eye Exam Chart
Further Information
Macular Society
PO Box 1870,
Andover SP10 9AD
Helpline 0300 30 30 111
info@macularsociety.org
Online Contact Form
