It has been suggested that on expiry of the Driving Licence Photocard, that a mandatory eyesight test for renewal should be required. Already a requirement for renewal of a LGV/PCV vocational licence and with 70-year-old drivers having to declare if their eyesight has deteriorated, should the call for every driver to have a vision assessment every ten years be legislated?

There is evidence to support this both by the huge costs of road accidents and the number of casualties caused by the drivers with poor eyesight. A previous estimate is a cost of £33 million with 2900 causalities in one year. Also, statistics reveal that there are approximately 75% of the adult population of the UK requiring eyesight correction with 25% of drivers admitting to not having an eyesight test for more than two years. Considering that a decline in eyesight of up to 40% of visual acuity can occur before people notice the deterioration, is the argument for driver eyesight testing irrefutable?

Eyesight deterioration occurs, whether naturally due to ageing, caused by a medical condition or work-related strain, it is something that should not be ignored. Especially when there is a risk to self and others where an occupation or activity relies upon good eyesight; operating machinery or driving a vehicle, where it is necessary to identify potential hazards and respond appropriately.

Age-Related Eyesight Deterioration

Over time eyes require more light, become sensitive to glare, the eye lenses become hardened and less flexible. Discolouration of the clear lens will make some colours or shades of colour harder to distinguish and the tear glands will reduce output. The disease macular degeneration, common in over 60-year-olds damages the centre of vision.

Without correction, considering drivers, the impact of this will make reduced light conditions and night-time driving much more difficult. Colour contrast between the road, kerb and surroundings will not be as easy to distinguish. Glare from oncoming headlights and reflections will become a problem. Close up dashboard information will be less clear. During the day, bright sunlight, dry eyes and focusing issues will add eyesight strain to the list.

Medical Conditions Effecting Eyesight

There are many medical conditions that will impair vision and may require the DVLA to be notified of the condition and severity. Directly effecting eyesight are Cataracts, Glaucoma and Diplopia. Other conditions that can impact the eyesight are heart disease, migraines, diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune disease, infections, liver conditions and even nutritional deficiencies.

Not forgetting other factors such as drugs, alcohol and tiredness, but all require action and consideration where driving is concerned. Obviously, the treatments will determine the vision levels that are legally required for driving and not all of the systematic eye related problems can be corrected with optometric devices.

Occupation-Related Eyesight Conditions

Occupation hazards can be dangerous to eyesight, especially if eye safety precautions are insufficient or missing. The eyes when coming into contact with dust, grit, particles, chemicals and extreme light can lead to permanent eyesight damage. Employment involved with near point tasks, where visual detailed attention over long periods is required, such as computer screen usage, can put a tremendous strain on the eyes. Attention to focused details often involves less blinking, more glare and can result in computer vision syndrome (CVS). Someone driving after this kind of activity increases their incident risk.

The discussion then comes down to personal responsibility, regardless of the lobbying for enforcement and whether eyesight testing should be mandatory at photocard expiry or not. Ten years is a long time and could be just as ineffective as the current situation. Besides, it is still is an offence to drive with uncorrected poor eyesight.

However, employers using Licence Link could establish a policy of requesting that drivers have regular eyesight tests when alerted to photocard expiries.  Or when a driver has incurred a set number of points. Possibly every two years when the second annual driving licence check occurs. It does not necessarily need legislation if eyesight testing is reflected in duty of care requirements. Problems can be identified and corrected before they lead to additional risk, for the employee, other road users and the employer.