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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Ollie2007

Ollie2007

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Just getting to grips with this forum. Desperate for some advice regarding DVLA field test. See you later.
 
Hi Ollie, welcome to the forum 🙂
What is your concern with the visual fields test? Have you had a test already and worried about the outcome? Or perhaps you want to know about the test itself and what it involves?

Let us know, we're here to help 🙂
 
Ollie2007 said:
Just getting to grips with this forum. Desperate for some advice regarding DVLA field test. See you later.
Click to expand...
Hannah DUK said:
Hi Ollie, welcome to the forum 🙂
What is your concern with the visual fields test? Have you had a test already and worried about the outcome? Or perhaps you want to know about the test itself and what it involves?

Let us know, we're here to help 🙂
Click to expand...

Hi, my name is Rachel and I have been a type 1 diabetic for 40+ years. About 28 years ago just after completing my first year at dental school I developed sudden diabetic retinopathy in both eyes and had to drop off the course. This became very serious and it was doubtful if I’d see again. After surgery and much laser treatment over a couple of years I had good sight in one eye and partial sight in the other. Much to everyone’s amazement I returned to dental school and graduated with distinction. I am still working as a dental surgeon and I have been driving daily with no serious accidents or return of the disease for the past 25 years.
I renew my DVL licence every three years and have had to complete that dreaded field test twice. Once just after all my surgery and laser treatment And about ten years ago. When I applied to renew this year, it came, the piece of paper we all dread, the application for the field test. There had been many changes since I last took the test, one being that I couldn’t take it at my regular optician who managed to calm my near panic attacks in that awful machine and between us got me through the test. This change of venue and optical sent me into a flat spin straight away.
I went to the test in specs Savers and despite passing all the vision tests with flying colours I received a letter from the DVLA saying I had failed and couldn’t drive.
I am devastated at this totally ridiculous ban when I haven’t been able to reason or explain to anybody at the DVLA. There is no room anywhere on the initial application form to give additional back up or explanations as to the stable nature of your condition.
My eyes have been stable and completely disease free for 25 years. I have annual checks and photos of the back of my eye to confirm this. I have good vision, I can read the visual chart to the bottom, I am working as a. dentist everyday and now because I can’t pass this field test, which doesn’t actually represent how I look and see when I drive,my life is turned upside down.
My eye consultant is in agreement that my eyes are stable and have been fr the past 25years,but he says he is powerless. to advise the DVLA.
I have a mental and psychological block with these field test machines, I panic and make mistakes. When I drive a car I don’t set off without moving my head and checking mirrors, more so than the average person because of my partial sight in one eye. How does this relate to sticking your head in an over heated box looking straight ahead without moving my head? This seems so unfair.
My head is spinning in confusion now, if I want to appeal I have a letter saying I have to lodge an Appeal. Can anyone advise how to do start this and what is the best approach too try and ensure a positive outcome? Has anyone out there been through this awful business. Many thanks for reading this epic.
 
Ollie2007 said:
Hi, my name is Rachel and I have been a type 1 diabetic for 40+ years. About 28 years ago just after completing my first year at dental school I developed sudden diabetic retinopathy in both eyes and had to drop off the course. This became very serious and it was doubtful if I’d see again. After surgery and much laser treatment over a couple of years I had good sight in one eye and partial sight in the other. Much to everyone’s amazement I returned to dental school and graduated with distinction. I am still working as a dental surgeon and I have been driving daily with no serious accidents or return of the disease for the past 25 years.
I renew my DVL licence every three years and have had to complete that dreaded field test twice. Once just after all my surgery and laser treatment And about ten years ago. When I applied to renew this year, it came, the piece of paper we all dread, the application for the field test. There had been many changes since I last took the test, one being that I couldn’t take it at my regular optician who managed to calm my near panic attacks in that awful machine and between us got me through the test. This change of venue and optical sent me into a flat spin straight away.
I went to the test in specs Savers and despite passing all the vision tests with flying colours I received a letter from the DVLA saying I had failed and couldn’t drive.
I am devastated at this totally ridiculous ban when I haven’t been able to reason or explain to anybody at the DVLA. There is no room anywhere on the initial application form to give additional back up or explanations as to the stable nature of your condition.
My eyes have been stable and completely disease free for 25 years. I have annual checks and photos of the back of my eye to confirm this. I have good vision, I can read the visual chart to the bottom, I am working as a. dentist everyday and now because I can’t pass this field test, which doesn’t actually represent how I look and see when I drive,my life is turned upside down.
My eye consultant is in agreement that my eyes are stable and have been fr the past 25years,but he says he is powerless. to advise the DVLA.
I have a mental and psychological block with these field test machines, I panic and make mistakes. When I drive a car I don’t set off without moving my head and checking mirrors, more so than the average person because of my partial sight in one eye. How does this relate to sticking your head in an over heated box looking straight ahead without moving my head? This seems so unfair.
My head is spinning in confusion now, if I want to appeal I have a letter saying I have to lodge an Appeal. Can anyone advise how to do start this and what is the best approach too try and ensure a positive outcome? Has anyone out there been through this awful business. Many thanks for reading this epic.
Click to expand...

Hi Rachel

Welcome to the forum. I’m very new here too. I don’t have any experience of the field test. So can’t advise on that. But my son has to deal with the DVLA! They seem to be checking conditions even when there has been no medical change. My son has had to go for a medical at his GPs, still waiting to see if he’ll get his licence back.

Hope you find someone to help you.

Kind regards

Judith
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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