Learning to Drive

[kieran19685]

Hi all

I am 27 and have KC since the age of 21, currently wear one contact lens on my good eye, have a consultation next month to look into the possibilities of having cross linking done, i have good vision with contacts and they seem comfortable however i want to start learning to drive but am slightly put off the idea of driving with KC, does anyone have any advice or experiences to share

Thanks

Kieran

[GarethB]

Check with your optomotrist and / or opthalmologist that you indeed meet the driving standard for vision. When I had a hickup with lens wear in one eye I checked that I also met the driving criteria for those that are blind in one eye which basically makes sure you have good periferal vision to.

Declare your KC to the DVLA when you apply for your provisional licence.

Let your instructor know you have KC and if you drive with one eye. Back when I was wearing a lens in one eye I wouldn't necesarily blink both eyes togetehr and to the casual observer it looked like I was closing one eye.

The instructor will advise on adjsuting mirrors to keep blind spots to a minimum, but I found when driving with one eye that I would move my head more when manouvering to make sure that I was aware of all the hazards around me.

Since passing my test over 25 years ago which was just after being diagnosed with KC I didn't drive for 12 months which covered the period where I was waiting for a graft and the initial recovery period and then I started driving again with just the one eye. In 2004 I went under a self imposed driving ban for three months just while I had to resolve a contact lens issue. In 2008 I had another lens issue but I just went for a drive with a local driving instructor sighted in one eye for my own pice of mind to make sure I was OK to drive and then retook my Advanced Driving test still with one eye and passed with flying colours, in fact I did a better job with the one eye.

There are many people who have other visiual problems that mean they are blind in one eye and they hold a full driving licence and have no problems.

As far as insurance goes, as long as they are informed to and whenever you are driving you meet the driving vision standards, there is pretty much no reason why we can't drive.