[TheSownRose]

(Original post by W.H.T)
whats 'astigmatism' ?

(Original post by luuucyx)
this

and also, surely you optician can provide a note saying you're safe to drive?

Instead of being spherical, your cornea is more rugby-ball shaped, leading to it having more power in one direction than in any other.

OP, I'd recommend doing the following:
1) Make sure your prescription is up to date - especially if you're short-sighted, tiny declines in your vision are very noticeable.
2) Make sure you're not tired - when you are, you aren't as able to focus.
3) Try and do it in decent conditions - it's harder to see in rain or smog than in clear sunshine.

[Higgy90]

on my test i had to do one from the wall and a random car on the street

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by W.H.T)
So basically you ust can't see the sharpness of things...

No. Well, images also aren't as sharp, but that's with any vision problem. In astigmatism, you can see them better in one direction than another.

[marmalady]

OP, have you ever tried contact lenses? I have astigmatism in one eye and as such have what's called a 'toric lens' for that eye, and a normal one for the other. The toric is weighted to work with your astigmatism and help correct the vision better than a normal lens. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toric_lens
They might be a better option for you than glasses for driving?

[Bubbles*de*Milo]

If you have to cheat your driving test to pass, maybe you... shouldn't drive? Those regulations aren't there for fun.

[W.H.T]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
No. Well, images also aren't as sharp, but that's with any vision problem. In astigmatism, you can see them better in one direction than another.

well can't OP just tilt or angle her head so that the plate number lines up to where her vision is better?

[gee_shakedown]

(Original post by hannydee)
OP, have you ever tried contact lenses? I have astigmatism in one eye and as such have what's called a 'toric lens' for that eye, and a normal one for the other. The toric is weighted to work with your astigmatism and help correct the vision better than a normal lens. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toric_lens
They might be a better option for you than glasses for driving?

Oh thanks for this suggestion; I'll book an appointment up and look into it Does it make a lot of difference? I really just need to gain a couple of meters worth of vision.

[buzz123]

You need better glasses or shouldn't really be on the road. gl

[gee_shakedown]

I'm quite annoyed with everyone saying 'you shouldn't be on the road' when I can see everything on the road perfectly fine, I've never had a problem in a lesson, and my hazard perception is just fine. Literally, I'm about a meter off from seeing a complete numberplate. If I stood and squinted properly for 5 minutes I'd probably be able to make it out. There are people driving who are far less competent than me and with much worse eyesight.

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by W.H.T)
well can't OP just tilt or angle her head so that the plate number lines up to where her vision is better?

No; even if OP could put her head practically on her side, she would still be seeing the image better in one direction than the other because her eyes would have also changed position.

It would just be at ninety degrees to where it is in an upright position.

[victor_b1992]

(Original post by gee_shakedown)
I've got astigmatism in both eyes, quite severely, and so before I began driving I visited 3 different opticians, all of whom said I should be fine to drive, although only just. I passed my theory, did a load of lessons, then quit because my instructor was awful. I recently started back up again and everything seemed fine, I visited another optician who once again confirmed my eyesight was adequate, but today I went to the test center to try to read the numberplates and I couldn't do it for the life of me. I'm absolutely devastated because I will have wasted so much money for nothing, I'm a good driver, and my test is booked, what the hell do I do?
I already wear glasses, and even with them on I can't really make out the numberplates Does this mean I just can't drive full stop ever? and would this classify me as disabled?

I was in a very similar case, however before starting my test i memories the car licence plate as the instructor tend to test the licence plate of cars in a fixed place due to the 20 meters.

[Couldxbe]

(Original post by gee_shakedown)
Oh thanks for this suggestion; I'll book an appointment up and look into it Does it make a lot of difference? I really just need to gain a couple of meters worth of vision.

I'm -7 in both eyes and have an astimagtism in both.

I have toric lenses that I wear for a whole month without taking them out. They cost me £16 per pair! It's completely transformed my life. Once a month, I sleep without contact lenses to give my eyes a rest and then pop the next set in.

Here: http://www.onestopcontactlenses.co.u...nse.asp?IDC=25. I get mine from opticians. I started with daily lenses, moved to monthly ones (take out each night and put in solution) and I'm now onto something similar to these.

My first test I struggled with the plate, but he did it on a diagonal. I got one letter confused (Y and V.. always screws me!) and he just said 'are you sure?' and I changed it to a V lol.

I was always so worried about this because I do struggle but it was fine; I just changed my lenses a few days before so they were fresh and I made sure to adjust them just before I went for the test.

[gee_shakedown]

(Original post by Couldxbe)
I'm -7 in both eyes and have an astimagtism in both.

I have toric lenses that I wear for a whole month without taking them out. They cost me £16 per pair! It's completely transformed my life. Once a month, I sleep without contact lenses to give my eyes a rest and then pop the next set in.

Here: http://www.onestopcontactlenses.co.u...nse.asp?IDC=25

My first test I struggled with the plate, but he did it on a diagonal. I got one letter confused (Y and V.. always screws me!) and he just said 'are you sure?' and I changed it to a V lol.

I was always so worried about this because I do struggle but it was fine; I just changed my lenses a few days before so they were fresh and I made sure to adjust them just before I went for the test.

Oh god thank you so much, this has really given me some hope
I'm going to go enquire tomorrow. I'm guessing you have to have them made specially? if so how long does it take because my test is in September.
Btw, have some rep
x

[Couldxbe]

(Original post by gee_shakedown)
Oh god thank you so much, this has really given me some hope
I'm going to go enquire tomorrow. I'm guessing you have to have them made specially? if so how long does it take because my test is in September.
Btw, have some rep
x

Yeah you get them in a little packet with your prescription on. I'm not sure exactly how they're made tbh . September is PLENTY of time. I order mine in 3 monthly batches from my opticians and they're at my London house (sent from Liverpool) in 2 weeks.

With the extended wear lenses you have to build up. It took me about 5 months to be able to wear them on a monthly basis - I started with 1 night, then 2, then 4, then 8 etc. So even if you're not wearing them all month you should be wearing them often.

I've had some form of contact lens since I was 14, but I never really wore them as much as my glasses until now. I haven't worn my glasses in over 3 months - it feels wrong. People only know I wear contact lenses if I point it out to them!

I'm surprised at how many people don't know about extended wear contact lenses. I literally have almost perfect vision apart from 12 nights a year basically..

Report back tomorrow

[evantej]

(Original post by gee_shakedown)
I've got astigmatism in both eyes, quite severely, and so before I began driving I visited 3 different opticians, all of whom said I should be fine to drive, although only just. I passed my theory, did a load of lessons, then quit because my instructor was awful. I recently started back up again and everything seemed fine, I visited another optician who once again confirmed my eyesight was adequate, but today I went to the test center to try to read the numberplates and I couldn't do it for the life of me. I'm absolutely devastated because I will have wasted so much money for nothing, I'm a good driver, and my test is booked, what the hell do I do?
I already wear glasses, and even with them on I can't really make out the numberplates Does this mean I just can't drive full stop ever? and would this classify me as disabled?

I just applied for my provisional and read their section about sight as I am worried I will not be able to make out registration plates etc. even with my glasses; from what I can remember, the instructor will give you two chances before physically getting out and measuring the required distance to ensure fairness, and if you fail this last test then you automatically fail the practical, your provisional is automatically revoked, and you have to sign a declaration which means reapplying for another license requires you to take an eye test organised at a Driving Standards Agency centre before they give you your provisional. Then you are back at square one with the practical test.

Seems the question was answered earlier so forgive my repetition.

[gee_shakedown]

I went to the opticians today and all he could tell me was that I'm borderline. I'm so annoyed; glasses don't work, so I asked to try contact lenses, but he said they might make no difference at all.
Can all these people just expect me to show up on the day and see how it goes, I'm so annoyed. I've tried 4 opticians now and none can say anything more than 'borderline'
I looked at laser surgery but it's not available on the NHS and you can't have it until you're 21 anyway.

[WelshBluebird]

I don't understand why they can't just give you stronger glasses

[Steeps]

(Original post by gee_shakedown)
If I stood and squinted properly for 5 minutes I'd probably be able to make it out.

The reason it's there is so you are up to scratch when it comes to reading signposts, you don't get 5 minutes to squint at a streetname sign as you're driving along at 25mph. If you can't read it before you get too close it gives you no time to warn other drivers by indicating, to brake appropriately for the junction and you become a risk to other drivers.

[Z-6H820]

you seem to be annoyed when people are telling you not to drive - but they're completely right. they don't make the rules just to piss you off, they make the rules because they have reason to believe you would be a dangerous driver.

and you would! my eyes are +3.75 and +4.00 and i feel i can see very well without my glasses, but i wouldn't dream of driving anywhere without them, because there's a reason I'm supposed to. you might think you can see fine, but it's the little things - like a toddler appearing behind a hedge out the corner of your eye, that you might mistake for something else. if you have to cheat on the test, don't dare subject other drivers to your stupidity. you should have made sure your eyes were good enough before you started and wasted your money.

apologies if this is a bit of a rant but i can't draw a line between "i don't FEEL drunk, i'll just drive" to "i THINK i can see properly, i'll just drive." both are idiotic and dangerous and there are reasons the rules are there.

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by gee_shakedown)
I went to the opticians today and all he could tell me was that I'm borderline. I'm so annoyed; glasses don't work, so I asked to try contact lenses, but he said they might make no difference at all.
Can all these people just expect me to show up on the day and see how it goes, I'm so annoyed. I've tried 4 opticians now and none can say anything more than 'borderline'
I looked at laser surgery but it's not available on the NHS and you can't have it until you're 21 anyway.

Borderline? Borderline what?