Visual Standards

*UK relevant

Group 1 entitlement (private car or motorbike)

• Best corrected VA in good lighting sufficient to read a vehicle registration plate at 20 metres (where the figures are 5cm wide)

• The equivalent of this is approximately 6/12 Snellen VA

• There should be no major binocular field defect: no more than 3 contiguous points missed in 

• At least 120 degrees on the horizontal scale
• And within 20 degrees above and below fixation in the vertical

• The Esterman protocol is commonly used for binocular testing: uses a target equivalent to the white Goldmann III4e setting

• New diplopia is a contraindication
• Diplopia must be controlled and the patient must have adapted

• The DVLA should be informed about significant visual loss in one eye even if the other meets the standard for driving

Group 2 entitlement (lorries and buses)

• Best corrected VA at least 6/7.5 in the stronger eye
• Best corrected VA no worse than 6/60 in the other eye
• A glasses prescription of no more than +8
• NB: one eye with VA less than 3/60 is a contraindication to driving lorries, buses
• Normal binocular field of vision
• New onset diplopia is a contraindication

• Diplopia must be controlled with prisms only (not with patching) and the patient must have adapted

• NB: Colour blindness is not a contraindication

Blind registration (“severely sight impaired”)

• Best corrected visual acuity is less than 3/60; or,
• Best corrected visual acuity is between 6/60 and 3/60 with field constriction; or,
• Best corrected visual acuity is between 6/18 and 6/60 with severe field constriction