Why Does the DMV Remove Night Driving Ability If You Take the Test With Corrected Glasses?
Posted , 6 users are following.
Some months ago I lost my night driving license but retained daytime driving with the stipulation of correction. What I don't understand if in taking this test with the right glasses why would one not pass 100% on both day and night vision since correction usually gives perfect distance vision? I had cataracts at the time of the test which have now been removed. However, my distance vision in my left eye is now worse than before. Things are definitely brighter without the cataracts. I wonder if I will be able to get back the night driving privilege for my license if I test with the right glasses?
0 likes, 10 replies
RebDovid Spring1951
Posted
It's likely a question of state law, which you should be able to check online. In Massachusetts, for example, an unrestricted license is available to those under 75 (1) with at least 20/40 visual acuity in either eye, with or without corrective lenses; (2) not less than 120 degrees combined horizontal peripheral field of vision; (3) be able to distinguish the colors, red, green, and amber; and (4) do not have unresolved diplopia.
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If one's vision is between 20/50 - 20/70 in either eye, with or without corrective lenses, and not less than 120 degrees combined horizontal peripheral field of vision, then one may be eligible for a daylight-restricted license.
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Additional testing is required for those over 75.
Spring1951 RebDovid
Posted
Sounds complicated for MA. I will have to check further into the rules in Oregon. Optometrist just wrote me to say, "And if your vision has improved to 20/40 or better, I can change the daytime driving only restriction on your DMV form". Have a feeling I won't pass as LE is at -01.75 and RE at -01.00 from what I am guessing. Oh, well...
Lynda111 Spring1951
Posted
Do you know why your left eye distance vision is worse?
RonAKA Spring1951
Edited
Wouldn't you get prescription glasses to correct those myopic errors, and then just get a driver's license that is conditional on wearing eyeglasses, assuming you pass the vision test with the eyeglasses on?
Spring1951 Lynda111
Posted
The target we went after was -01.25 and then I was tested on a machine about 5 weeks later and it came out -01.75 LE which means the target was missed by the max of -0.50 from the information I have been able to piece together. I am getting tested by an Optometrist next Thursday to know the final targets but my distance vision is not very good for the LE so it seems that -01.75 may be correct.
One question I have though remaining is that when I was originally tested last December and lost my night driving privilege it was with older glasses that were no longer valid but did work. I believe that the protocol would have been to give me a new prescription and then be tested again for the DMV. I think I might have passed the test with the right glasses. Instead the doctor recommended cataract surgery as the remedy which took about 3 months. It would appear that everyone passes the DMV test as long as they have the right glasses and no other eye conditions.
Spring1951 RonAKA
Posted
That occurred to me again last night. As soon as I get the new prescription next Thursday, I would then re take the test and should pass it with no problem. I realized last night that when I first went to the Ophthalmologist last Dec. she tested me on old glasses and then removed my night driving privilege She then said I needed Cataract surgery to correct the problem rather than giving me a new prescription and then re testing me. I thought it would be very fast and never questioned this but it took about 3 months to complete the cataract surgery. At any rate, I think she should have given me a new prescription and let me retest in addition to recommending cataract surgery. I think the cataracts I had did not affect my eyesight that much and I might have passed the DMV test with the right prescription.
laurie30147 Spring1951
Posted
Hindsight is always 20/20. It's hard to say whether different glasses would have helped with the DMV. When my cataracts started getting worse, my prescription kept changing. At first I was blaming a previous optometrist, but I now realize that the cataracts were just causing a slow decline in sharpness. And the glare at night made driving really difficult, to the point where I actively avoided it. No glasses could have fixed that.
Then when I barely passed the DMV vision exam, I knew it was time to get my eyes fixed.
RonAKA Spring1951
Posted
I don't think it would make much sense getting new prescription glasses right before cataract surgery. For sure your eyesight will change with the surgery and the glasses would then be a bit of a waste of money.
Spring1951 RonAKA
Posted
Oh, yeah. I probably would have not gotten it anyway and I think she thought I was going to do the cataract surgery very fast as they space it with two weeks between surgeries. Somehow I didn't connect with the fact that if I had had the right prescription I might not have lost my night driving license which somehow I just figured out???!!!? This eye thing is a new thing for me as I spent my life thinking I had good eyesight and never wore glasses.....ever (except when legally required for driving that is).
Spring1951 laurie30147
Posted
I think a new prescription would have helped as my cataracts which were stage 4 did not seem to dim things that much. However, I was planning on doing the cataract surgery both eyes within two weeks and did not want a new prescription at that time.