Applying for my driving license after 16 years without it

[Big Matt]

Hi all

I’m new to this forum so apologies if I do something wrong or put something in the wrong place.

I’m looking for some help, guidance and general nice comments to help me get through this stressful time ( i’m So scared )

I am a type 1 diabetic, I was diagnosed when I was eight years old, I am now 38, so 30 years with the condition

When I was 17 I took my driving test, passed with no issues and was granted a 3 year driving licence, at the age of 21 I started to get diabetic retinopathy, the Drs at the hospital decided that laser treatment would be given to seal the blood vessels that had grown on the retina, unfortunately for me after weeks & months of laser treatment and visiting the hospital twice weekly it had not worked and I was close to being bling in both eyes, I was terrified!! The next plan of action was to operate on each eye, a vitrectomy, the operations took place 6 months apart, they cut my eyes open, scraped the vitreous jelly out, sealed all the blood vessels, filled the eyes with synthetic fluid and stitched them up, a couple of week after each operation when things had settled down I had vision in both eyes, it was amazing!!! A few month after the last operation it was found out that I then had a cataract in one eye and it needed to be removed, apparently a common problem after a vitrectomy, the cataract was removed with no issues at all, my eyes were monitored closely for 12-18 month, it was a miracle I had no new or leaking blood vessels. Since this time the hospital have increased the duration between my check ups from 2 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and finally 12 months, for the last 10 years I have visited the hospital every 12 month for my check up, for the last 14 years there have been no issues with my eyes, not one new blood vessel, not one leaking blood vessel, 100% stable. During this time I had let my driving license expire and I was at a comfortable place in my life where I did not need to drive, I was also scared of failing vision tests, it terrified me!!

Today I feel ready to take the challenge, the forms have been sent to the DVLA with my old licence that expired in 2002

The medical forms have been filled in and sent to the DVLA

I have checked with my optometrist at the hospital and my sight reaches the minimum standard

I have measured out 20 metre and I can read a car number plate

I have now booked in to my local Specsavers for a DVLA sight test including visual field test

Would any one tell me what these test are like, how many chances do you get?

How long does it take the DVLA to contact me?

Can I do anything to help myself?

Any information anyone would be willing to share would be so gratefully received, any information at all.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my story

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hello Matt and welcome to the forum, I can't help regarding the tests etc just wanted to say hello 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Like Sue - I've never actually experienced a sight test specific to the DVLA per se, but my annual NHS sight test is automatically checked for peripheral vision and I hate doing it - so boring and repetitive! LOL

Never mind victrectomies, cataracts for people with diabetes are as common as muck - I've had one sorted and have just been referred for the other - waiting to hear from 'Choose and Book' as I type - and though they say my eyesight is absolutely good enough I haven't actually driven for a while now, since I know my eyesight generally in less than perfect light isn't 100% anyway - and so it scares me - and as I have a chauffeur on tap LOL (husband) - I've just sort of temporarily stopped.

I do wear glasses for seeing generally as well as reading and I know that one of the things DVLA require when it is 'specific' - is your visual acuity with OUT glasses! - cos my optician had just had to see someone again to do that and sign a form for DVLA and we were both saying , well - how daft - if you know you can't see much at all for more than a few minutes without your glasses - why the hell would you try and drive your car without em? - so with people whose eyes they've tested for years and who wear glasses 'all the while' - opticians don't ordinarily bother testing what they can see without em!

Good luck with it - I don't think really there's all that much any of us can do to hurry up the medical Branch at Swansea - we just have to wait till we get to the top of the pile. Sometimes they're like Speedy Gonzales and others like a snail.

 

[Big Matt]

Hello Matt and welcome to the forum, I can't help regarding the tests etc just wanted to say hello 🙂

Hi pumper Sue

 

[Big Matt]

Like Sue - I've never actually experienced a sight test specific to the DVLA per se, but my annual NHS sight test is automatically checked for peripheral vision and I hate doing it - so boring and repetitive! LOL

Never mind victrectomies, cataracts for people with diabetes are as common as muck - I've had one sorted and have just been referred for the other - waiting to hear from 'Choose and Book' as I type - and though they say my eyesight is absolutely good enough I haven't actually driven for a while now, since I know my eyesight generally in less than perfect light isn't 100% anyway - and so it scares me - and as I have a chauffeur on tap LOL (husband) - I've just sort of temporarily stopped.

I do wear glasses for seeing generally as well as reading and I know that one of the things DVLA require when it is 'specific' - is your visual acuity with OUT glasses! - cos my optician had just had to see someone again to do that and sign a form for DVLA and we were both saying , well - how daft - if you know you can't see much at all for more than a few minutes without your glasses - why the hell would you try and drive your car without em? - so with people whose eyes they've tested for years and who wear glasses 'all the while' - opticians don't ordinarily bother testing what they can see without em!

Good luck with it - I don't think really there's all that much any of us can do to hurry up the medical Branch at Swansea - we just have to wait till we get to the top of the pile. Sometimes they're like Speedy Gonzales and others like a snail.

Hi

Like Sue - I've never actually experienced a sight test specific to the DVLA per se, but my annual NHS sight test is automatically checked for peripheral vision and I hate doing it - so boring and repetitive! LOL

Never mind victrectomies, cataracts for people with diabetes are as common as muck - I've had one sorted and have just been referred for the other - waiting to hear from 'Choose and Book' as I type - and though they say my eyesight is absolutely good enough I haven't actually driven for a while now, since I know my eyesight generally in less than perfect light isn't 100% anyway - and so it scares me - and as I have a chauffeur on tap LOL (husband) - I've just sort of temporarily stopped.

I do wear glasses for seeing generally as well as reading and I know that one of the things DVLA require when it is 'specific' - is your visual acuity with OUT glasses! - cos my optician had just had to see someone again to do that and sign a form for DVLA and we were both saying , well - how daft - if you know you can't see much at all for more than a few minutes without your glasses - why the hell would you try and drive your car without em? - so with people whose eyes they've tested for years and who wear glasses 'all the while' - opticians don't ordinarily bother testing what they can see without em!

Good luck with it - I don't think really there's all that much any of us can do to hurry up the medical Branch at Swansea - we just have to wait till we get to the top of the pile. Sometimes they're like Speedy Gonzales and others like a snail.

Hi Jenny

Thanks for the reply, I’ve waited this long so I suppose a few more week won’t hurt, I think it’s going to be mind over matter

 

[HOBIE]

Really good luck Matt. A bit encouragement from me & others. Like you I passed when I was 17. 27 when I did my M/Bike test. Have been T1 since being 3. Go 4 it ! 🙂

 

[Ditto]

Hello Matt and welcome to the forum 🙂 I'm like Manuel in Fawlty Towers...I know nothing!

 

[Big Matt]

Really good luck Matt. A bit encouragement from me & others. Like you I passed when I was 17. 27 when I did my M/Bike test. Have been T1 since being 3. Go 4 it ! 🙂

Thank you so much!!

Means the world that people like yourself are supporting me

 

[Big Matt]

Hello Matt and welcome to the forum 🙂 I'm like Manuel in Fawlty Towers...I know nothing!

Hi Manuel lol

Good to know your here!!

Matt

 

[Copepod]

Hope you get the all clear from eye tests to restart driving @Big Matt. As you've not driven for so long, and no doubt have a few concerns, it would be worth considering having a couple of refresher sessions with a driving instructor.

 

[Big Matt]

Hope you get the all clear from eye tests to restart driving @Big Matt. As you've not driven for so long, and no doubt have a few concerns, it would be worth considering having a couple of refresher sessions with a driving instructor.

Hi there

The funny thing is I drive most days at work, on private property of coarse, I work at a large car auction company, since driving there I have never had an accident or any little scrape at all, colleagues are happy to be in the car with me with no fear, I would be happy to retake my test again, I suppose I’m in control of that where as my eye test it is what it is, scares me so much

Thanks for your comments, makes me happy to read them

Matt

 

[Copepod]

Hi there

The funny thing is I drive most days at work, on private property of coarse, I work at a large car auction company, since driving there I have never had an accident or any little scrape at all, colleagues are happy to be in the car with me with no fear, I would be happy to retake my test again, I suppose I’m in control of that where as my eye test it is what it is, scares me so much

Thanks for your comments, makes me happy to read them

Matt

That's good news, but how would you feel at a road junction, top of sliproad to motorway, looking for cyclists, pedestrians etc? I wasn't suggesting retaking test, just having first couple of hours on public roads with an instructor to observe / make suggestions ONLY if necessary.

 

[HOBIE]

I have never met you & I am not a Dr but I have confidence in you. What does your GP & Specialist say ? 🙂

 

[Big Matt]

That's good news, but how would you feel at a road junction, top of sliproad to motorway, looking for cyclists, pedestrians etc? I wasn't suggesting retaking test, just having first couple of hours on public roads with an instructor to observe / make suggestions ONLY if necessary.

Hi

Yes great idea

I feel totally confident in my ability to see and drive safely, my optometrist ask me the best question!! “Would you drive on any UK Road with your wife and children in the vehicle?”

Yes without hesitation, I would never put my family in any situation where they would be in any danger, that’s my whole life!! Looking after and protecting my family

I think it’s a great idea, certainly wouldn’t hurt anything

Thanks for the idea

Matt

 

[pav]

Welcome to the forum. The last time I had a field of vision test was many years ago when DVLA removed most of the vehicle categories I was entitled to drive, virtually now just a car, bike and small trailer.

The test then involved a large globe like a very big football which you rested your chin on a pad effectively just in the globe. You were then given a button to press. Around the globe were tiny lights and you pressed the button when you saw a light come on. These lights were in every conceivable position in the globe. Your results are compared to the actual lights that were on when you pressed the button and what was actually on during the test, with the results they can see if you have any gaps in your area of vision and how big or small the gaps are. Depending on the results determines if you get your licence back. With myself they put me on a restricted 12 month licence, which is a pain as DVLA were at the time very slow doing their medical reviews.

I don't know what spec savers way of testing field of vision is, as mine was done in the hospital.

 

[Big Matt]

I have never met you & I am not a Dr but I have confidence in you. What does your GP & Specialist say ? 🙂

Hi

Thank you for having confidence in me, it really does make me feel better

My specialist has told me to go for it, I haven’t consulted my GP as I rarely see him, my specialist knows my eyes in so much more detail than my GP who just receives a letter ever 12 month, the specialist looks in to the back of the eyes, looks at the photos of my eyes and views any other test results he has asked for

Many thanks

Matt

 

[Big Matt]

Welcome to the forum. The last time I had a field of vision test was many years ago when DVLA removed most of the vehicle categories I was entitled to drive, virtually now just a car, bike and small trailer.

The test then involved a large globe like a very big football which you rested your chin on a pad effectively just in the globe. You were then given a button to press. Around the globe were tiny lights and you pressed the button when you saw a light come on. These lights were in every conceivable position in the globe. Your results are compared to the actual lights that were on when you pressed the button and what was actually on during the test, with the results they can see if you have any gaps in your area of vision and how big or small the gaps are. Depending on the results determines if you get your licence back. With myself they put me on a restricted 12 month licence, which is a pain as DVLA were at the time very slow doing their medical reviews.

I don't know what spec savers way of testing field of vision is, as mine was done in the hospital.

Hi

Thank you for the info, just hope I can see all the lights

Matt

 

[Wirrallass]

Hi Big Matt I just want to welcome you to our friendly & helpful forum and to wish you good luck with the renewal of your driving licence which I hope drops through your letter box very soon so you can take to the roads again. Wishing you many happy hours of motoring ~ but take care, there's loads of maniacs on the roads today😱 Good luck.
(I too passed my driving test first time and pride myself that I have held a clean licence for 46yrs)

 

[trophywench]

I know when I had my eyes tested at Asda a couple of times rather than Boots - Asda had a newer machine which - well - it was just newer, smoother and quicker in operation and didn't click and whirr so much (which distracts me)and I just found it easier to operate. However because I was surprised they didn't mention my cataracts at all (which were there, having been discovered by Boots about 2 years previously so I wanted to know how they were progressing) I decided not to go to them again cos I didn't feel sure I could trust them.

This is locally to me, I stress this. You have to be able to trust opticians, same as doctors and dentists.

 

[Ally beetle]

Hi there

The funny thing is I drive most days at work, on private property of coarse, I work at a large car auction company, since driving there I have never had an accident or any little scrape at all, colleagues are happy to be in the car with me with no fear, I would be happy to retake my test again, I suppose I’m in control of that where as my eye test it is what it is, scares me so much

Thanks for your comments, makes me happy to read them

Matt

seems like you are fine to drive i think it is about looking at dots on a screen like a normal eye test just more of it and for longer, it is apparently very tiring and you should take someone with you sounds like you get to drive allot of cars for your job (lucky you !!)