UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi Everyone,
A question about driving...I am just within the standard required for driving but...
I'm struggling so much at night (especially twilight) that I've given it up as a bad job. And I get really tired, really quickly and I suspect that my eyes dip below the standard from time to time. The problem is that although my eyes pass for driving at one point in time that doesn't mean I'm fit all the time. I know this is not news for any of you but how do you deal with it. I've got a long drive to do (?) at the end of this month. I would be taking my wife (non driver) and child so I am a bit nervous about it. I could split it up, stay overnight in motels etc. How do you guys find it?

Matt

You should contact the DVLA and either download one of their forms ar get them to send you one.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/drivers.htm

You also need to tell your insurance company.

The DVLA will be in touch with your consultant ophthalmologist and will write either confirming that you can drive or telling you that you can't

If everything is okay their letter will contain someting to the effect that you are responsible to ensure that you do not drive when it is not safe for you to do so.

All the best

Andrew

Thanks for that. Will keep you posted.

Just sewnt away all the medical forms for my provisional liscence today. I am curious to know, will they refer me for an appointment to test my vision and visual fields etc?

Well, in my case, they wrote to my optician, who told them I was borderline, so they called me to my local driving test centre for an eyesight test.

Nothing too tough. Just "Please read that registration number".

Ub nt case the ophthalmologist told them that with specs I had 6/6-2 so they just gave me the green light.

I think that the answer is that "it depends"! On what, I do not know, but on something

All the best

Andrew

I think you guys are right - it is just so difficult to define. My opthmalogist said I was OK to drive so I guess he would tell the DVLA the same. I think it just comes down to my judgement as to how far and when. I have decided to limit myself to day driving in the local area (no more than 1 hour) until I get my lenses. I am cancelling my trip to see family this month, which will not be popular but it is sensible!

Matthew,

Are you bordeline with corrected or uncorrected vision?

The DVLA will request from the optom what your vision is like. As I get 6/6 corrected DVLA never contacted me. Optom said if they had quoted borderline then I would have a sight test at a driving test centre to see what I was like in the real world which is what counts more.

Dear all,

My optometrist advised me not to contact the DVLA as it was more trouble than it was worth with KC. He said my eyesight with correction was within the limits of normal and even though I experience many problems driving at night I was the best judge of my ability. I think this is very sensible as the fact that I find night driving such a problem means I rarely do it. He said that often they over-react. I certainly don't think I would tell my insurance as I am sure they would load my policy!

Sally

Sallyuk,

Always told my insurance and once I enquierd about a policy phoning twice, just different name and with the consent of my neighbour used his adress. The policy was exactly the same.

The fact we wear contact lenses or in some cases glasses, they just consider us as being short seighted.

Unfortunatly if you do not declare a medical condition and should you end up in court and your sight challenged and KC mentioned, your insurers as far as I am aware are entitled to declare the policy void for failure to disclose an existing medical condition.

I was in an accident in May and because of a shoulder injury getting my lenses in was problematic. This fact helped to determine that I had a whiplash injury too. So KC has helped with my claim!

Never hidden the fact I have KC and its never been held against me.

Agree DVLA can over react, but we are allowed to appeal which I know some have done here quite succesfully.

As far as I am concerned I have a disability, I am not ashamed of it and very proud of what I have managed to overcome.