![]() This exam must be done within six months of the driver’s license renewal. They will then need to complete a Report of Vision Examination. A licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist can also perform the exam. Most often, people take the vision test for free at the DMV. There is almost always a moderate decline in vision associated with aging, so it is important to test drivers who may not be aware of this decline since it happens so gradually. Driving ability often regresses as people age. ![]() The reasoning behind this testing is to make sure seniors can drive safely. If there are concerns about your driving, you may also be required to take a driving test. When you renew in person, you’ll have to take both a vision test and a written test. Once you hit age 70, California requires that you start renewing your license in person every five years. Certain driving-related laws apply to senior individuals in California. How Often Must I Retake the Vision Test?Īssuming they pass, most people will only have to take the vision test for driving once, until they are over 70 years old and need to renew their license. If you are able to pass the test at night, your only restriction will be you need to wear the lenses while driving. If you pass the test in the daytime but need bioptic telescopic lenses, you will be restricted to driving during the day, and you’ll be required to wear them while driving. They include:Īssuming you have not otherwise been barred from driving due to other requirements, the use of a bioptic telescopic lens is permitted for the driving portion of your test (not the vision test). Some other health conditions may require that you go to a special hearing to see if you’re capable of safely driving. You also cannot drive with monovision in California unless a vision specialist fills out a form saying it is okay, and you then pass a driving test to confirm you are capable of driving safely. While normal corrective wear is allowed when testing this limit, special wear (such as bioptic telescopic lenses and similar lenses) are not. If corrective wear (if needed) cannot allow you to reach a level of visual acuity better than 20/200 vision (where at 20 feet you see a level of detail a person with normal vision can see at 200 feet) in at least one eye, you cannot drive in California. You can then, of course, always drive with them if you want, but it’s not a legal requirement for you to wear them while driving. This is because it will allow you to legally drive without your glasses. If you benefit from glasses but can pass this standard test without them, you may wish to do so. If you can reach this level of visual acuity with glasses or other corrective wear, you can generally drive unrestricted so long as you only drive while wearing that corrective wear. To drive unrestricted, you must either have 20/40 vision in both eyes, or 20/40 vision in one eye and 20/70 vision (or better) in your other eye. If you have 20/40 vision, it means that you can details at 20 feet that someone with “normal” vision could see at a distance of 40 feet. Below that is when vision can really start to affect one’s driving ability, although not necessarily enough that you shouldn’t be able to drive at all (discussed later). Generally, 20/40 vision is considered a good cutoff for visual acuity. As a result, it is too strict a cutoff when determining who can safely drive. While this level of vision is more or less ideal, it is relatively rare. While better vision is possible, the gold standard for vision is generally considered 20/20 vision.Īt this level of visual acuity, a person at 20 feet can see at the same level of detail as what a person with essentially perfect vision can see at 20 feet. ![]() To understand California’s driving vision requirements, it’s important to grasp how visual acuity is measured. To help make roads safer, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires that people seeking their driving license must pass a vision test, written exam, and practical driving test. California Vision RequirementsĬalifornia is a big state with busy roads, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they have various laws that regulate driving. You may be required to retake your test if a family member or relevant professionals are worried you are unsafe on the road. In some cases, people with vision problems may be permitted to drive, but they may be limited to only driving in the day.ĭrivers who are age 70 or older will be required to retake some of the tests required to get their license, including a vision test, whenever they renew their license. Several medical conditions can also cause you to be unable to drive unless you are approved by a specialist or via a special hearing. If your corrected vision in your best eye is worse than 20/200 vision, you cannot drive in California.
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