Legal Eyesight Requirements

[Mill Wheel]

When taking the Driving Test, I understand that you should wear any glasses prescribed... especially when you are expected to prove that your eyesight is sufficient to drive safely on the road.

However, when I took my test, the assessment seemed a little slapdash - I was merely asked to read a numberplate of a vehicle parked down the street outside of the test centre.
I could easily have passed that vehicle earlier in the day.. or might even have arrived at the test centre in it!

I have astigmatism in one eye, which means certain characters are easier to read than others, due to the plane being at about 40°
Zeros and 1s are easy - D, E, G, 5, 6, 9 etc. present more of a problem... and while my glasses correct it to an extent, the resulting image is a compromise.
The worst typestyle for me is the LED array as used on Highway signs, where the letters are broken into dots of bright light, and the characters are themselves are a compromise in shape and depending on the number of LEDs in the array, affecting the definition.

I am now finding that my eyes are deteriorating more quickly - so my question is, am I obligated to have my eyes tested more often, and glasses changed more frequently to match the changes?

I can still see people, cyclists, hazards, vehicles etc., and road markings well enough to not affect my driving, it is only numberplates and some instructional signs that MIGHT cause difficulty.
If I WAS concerned in any deterioration in my eyesight, who should be approached? The optician, my GP or Driving Standards Agency?

There is a helpful article about astigmatism on Wikipedia if you are having trouble grasping the concept.

[Mill Wheel]

Ekona said:

DVLA says: You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.

So simple question, can you still do that? Ignoring any other different signage types for now.

I can when I get a pair of new glasses. My point is that the law makes no mention of the characters I would be forced to read - in a years time I MIGHT be able to read it, or I might not - there seems to be no guide as to who determines this. Even I would not necessarily notice until I encounter a character I cannot read.

With so many elderly drivers on the road, it would seem to me that the eyesight assessment needs to be made more frequent for those affected, and not dependent on their own impromptu self assessment.

[Mill Wheel]

battered said:

After that it's up to you as to whether YOU think that you can drive.

That is what worries me... I am conscientious and try and ensure I am fit to drive at all times I am on the road, but I see many other drivers who clearly are unable to see what is obvious.
I live in a moderately rural area with poor public transport, where the elderly often rely on driving more than they should, and they seem to be allowed far too much leeway on their driving standards.
One elderly person I know broke his glasses in a fall, but instead of getting them replaced, reverted to wearing his old ones!

And they wonder why elderly drivers pull out on other vehicles.