Worried-DVLA & requested eyetest

[hyper-Suze]

I have applied for my renewal licence and received a letter back yesterday that they want me to attend an eye test with one of their opticians.

I have had retinopathy, laser eye surgery last year, so far the clinic are happy that I have no further bleeds.

I am petrified that I'll fail the test and have licence revoked. so scared! Driving is everything to me!

Also, if anyone can tell me, as I am pregnant, and the strain that the pregnancy puts on the eyes, I wonder if it can affect my test results????

I am finding this a very bitter pill to swallow as only 4years ago I was a trained driving instructor and had to pass advanced vision tests and all sorts to prove my competancy on the road. Grrr!

 

[Copepod]

This link doesn't completely answer your query, but it's worth reading the latest advice from DVLA - see http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/News_Landing_Page/DVLA-issues-new-driving-guidelines/ and click on link to PDF, about half way down right side of page

Hope your eye test goes well and enables DVLA to renew your driving licence.

 

[Twitchy]

I know it's not easy but try not to stress...i've had laser in both eyes now, & a vitrectomy & still hold a licence. (however it's spelt?!) I know how stressful it is but hopefully with you being watched carefully in pregnancy they will have picked up on any changes very early so any lasering will be on the extreme periphery & outside the 'letterbox' you need for driving. All the best, Twitchy xxx

 

[Tezzz]

I can't say much more than I hope it goes OK for you. Good luck.

 

[Curdster]

Don't worry about this too much. I am going through the same thing and have had laser treatment. I have had my license renewed without problems on two previous occasions.
Your nominated local opticians are asked to provide a general sight test i.e reading the letters on the eye chart, and usually a visual field test. The field test is undertaken by sticking your head into what feels like a white large goldfish bowl and then the machine projects a random series of white flashes/dots onto the inner surface of the bowl in front of you. If you see the white dots, you have to acknowledge by pressing a hand held button. You don't have to move your head, but you have to look at a constant red dot while doing the test, which may be move during the test, but you will be given a chance to adjust you sight to see it again.
The only tip I can provide, is that you don't try to guess the white dots if you don't see them. I think you can get marked down for too many misses. You will get to a point during the test when you think they are appearing say every 3rd second and just press the hand held button in a rhythmical way whether you see a white dot or not. Also the optician may advise that the white dots may appear at differing strengths of light.
Good luck and try not to worry.

 

[hyper-Suze]

Aw, thank you everyone!

Twitchy - Your advice makes perfect sense and that my worrying will only consuming negative energy which I should use to focus on the test rather than failing the test! And as you say I am being watched like a hawk at the moment, and given my recent hba drop to 6.4 will bode well to not having any further changes!! Fingers crossed!

Curdster - Thanks for your insight(sorry -bad pun!) into the test, I know the bowl and flashing lights you refer to, hopefully i'll do ok! I imagine the penalising of points is like if you click too many times on the hazard perception test and that it recognises your trying to cheat the system. I wont do that of course, I just want to get through it all hunky dorey!

Anyway, I have my eye clinic app on Tues so I will ask my consultant, even though I can't understand his english with such a strong accent!

I am also contemplating paying for a pre-eye test to see what a different opticians opinion is, if I pass or fail the flashing lights and general ti give confidence if I pass that all should be ok if I have my DVLA test a few days later!!! ...hmm not sure on that, could do more damage than good I suppose!🙄

 

[LadyLuck]

Hi Hyper-Suze

I have been reading your posts as i am in a similar position. How did you get on with your field test, hope everything went ok?

I'm dreading mine as I find it really difficult under the pressure

Is it possible to request a Goldman test (the one where the optician flings his arm around) that would be so much better 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Good luck Suze - hope the you pass the tests with flying colours.

 

[Northerner]

Good luck Suze - hope the you pass the tests with flying colours.

It's a resurrected thread Mike 😉

Hi Hyper-Suze

I have been reading your posts as i am in a similar position. How did you get on with your field test, hope everything went ok?

I'm dreading mine as I find it really difficult under the pressure

Is it possible to request a Goldman test (the one where the optician flings his arm around) that would be so much better 🙂

Hi LadyLuck, welcome to the forum. I'm not a driver, so I can't answer your question, but hopefully someone will be around who can soon. Suze had a baby recently, so not around much at the moment 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi LadyLuck welcome to the forum,
you have to do the Esterman visual field test no finger wags allowed. 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

It's a resurrected thread Mike 😉

Oops! 🙄

 

[LadyLuck]

Hello everybody, i've been reading everybodys posts for a while, thought its about time i joined in 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hello everybody, i've been reading everybodys posts for a while, thought its about time i joined in 🙂

Hello welcome to the forum 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Hello everybody, i've been reading everybodys posts for a while, thought its about time i joined in 🙂

Nice to have you with us 🙂 Have you been diagnosed long?

 

[LadyLuck]

nearly 20 years now i'm 37, not very well controlled for most of ito but got my act together over the past 2 years, last few tests have been 6.5 and 7.1 which is a lot better 🙂