Information about Vision for Driving from Your Atlanta Doctor of Optometry

To pass a driving vision test in Georgia, applicants will need to prove they have at least 20/60 vision, without or without wearing corrective lens, in at least one eye. They must also have a horizontal vision field of 140 degrees or more (binocularly) or a horizontal vision field of 70+ degrees temporally and at least 50 degrees nasally for those who use only one eye to see. For certain vision impairments, the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles may restrict drivers from driving at night or driving on especially busy interstates. Your Marietta eye doctor recommends having a complete eye exam before taking your driving vision test to avoid failing and having to retake the test in the future.

Seniors and Vision for Driving

Georgia drivers over 64 years old are required to pass a vision screening test every time they renew their driver's license. Seniors who fail their vision exam are given a vision report form that must be completed by an ophthalmologist or doctor of optometry and then submitted to the Department of Driver Services. One of the reasons why some seniors may not pass their driving vision test is due to reduced depth perception, a common side effect of age-related vision deterioration. For example, someone with depth perception issues may have difficulty parking because they cannot accurately judge how much space they need. Poor depth perception may also make it hard for seniors to merge onto the interstate or evaluate how fast other drivers are merging into their lane.

Driving at Night

Drivers of all ages may experience difficulty driving at night due to one or more undiagnosed ocular disorders affecting their eyes, such as nearsightedness, cataracts, taking certain medications and, in rare cases, a deficiency of vitamin A. Your Roswell doctor of optometry can help improve your ability to drive at night by addressing these problems with comprehensive eye care examinations, prescribing corrective lenses and determining if medications are contributing to night driving issues.

Bioptic Driving

For drivers with severe vision problems, driving legally in Georgia is still possible with the use of bioptic eyewear. Bioptics utilizes a convenient telescopic system for improving a person's vision through magnification. When the bioptic user wants to magnify an object in their field of vision, they simply glance through a binocular viewing device to improve their ability to see traffic lights and street/highway signs.

If you are due to renew your Georgia driver's license and are worried about passing the vision test, call your Sandy Springs optometrist today at 404-252-1702. We also serve residents of Brookhaven, Marietta, Roswell, Atlanta and surrounding areas.