I had a sight test yesterday and...

13

I was issued a borderline prescription :rolleyes:

I had it cus hopefuly I'll be having my driving test soon and everything,my left eye is fine and is above standard for driving tests but my right eye is short sighted and below driving test standard. However as my left eye is so good it means that I can get away with no glasses. However seeing as my mum is also short sighted this will most likely detoriate and if I get eye strain in my left eye(pretty sure I do ocasioanlly, things get a bit blurry when I concnetrate too much, coloured patches when INstudy too hard etc) I will definetely need glasses, probably permanenetly. Should I just nab me a cheap pair and wear them when driving just in case? ANy similar experiences?I have a feeling it might help me concentrate too cus I sometimes get mega headaches and have to squint to focus properly when I'm concentrating on the road for like 2 hour lessons :rolleyes:

On a bit of a unrelated topic does anyone know what an NHS voucher (A) entitles you to? is irt free lenses and 40 quid off a frame?
that is all
:smile:

Reply 1

Friggerpants

1

1. Get eye test
2. Get prescription
3. Go to Costco/cash and carry where they do contacts.
4. Buy a bulk pack of single contact lenses for your right eye.

Reply 2

sauce

OP

13

good suggestion but I might juust buy a pair for driving off glassesdirect (Y)

Reply 3

brown

4

When I was learning to drive I found out I needed glasses after my instructor asked me to read a number plate and I couldn't. :redface:

If you're having to squint to see properly Lilian and are having problems reading road signs/markings, I would get some glasses (even if you just have to wear them for driving). I would get a cheap pair from that website. It is always better to be safe than sorry. :smile:

Reply 4

thomasp

7

Get glasses.

I was borderline, but various factors resulted in me failing my first driving test on eyesight. Went to the opticians, they said I was borderline, but as I had failed the driving test told me to get glasses.

I could read front plates fine from 20.5m, but the back plates were a bit hit & miss (it depended on what the plate said and how "unique" the letters were - you can't really mistake an A for anything else, but a D....). I got a back plate in my test and failed. And no, you can't ask the examiner "can I read a front plate as I struggle reading back plates" :p:

I only wear my glasses for driving, and occasionally in lectures if I can't see what's on the screen/board.

Glasses will be much cheaper than a re-test and the associated lessons and hiring of cars.

Reply 5

Friggerpants

1

I'm sure it aint 20.5m, more like 20.5ft.

Reply 6

ThePants999

14

It's supposed to be 20m. 20' would be far too easy!

Reply 7

sauce

OP

13

I'm just gunan do that, I don't wanna risk anything and overstrain my left by having to use it so much!

Reply 8

thefish_uk

14

Friggerpants

1. Get eye test
2. Get prescription
3. Go to Costco/cash and carry where they do contacts.
4. Buy a bulk pack of single contact lenses for your right eye.

That won't work... if you're buying contacts from anywhere as a person you need to provide a specification specifically for contact lenses. Of course the opticians themselves must have to get them from somewhere but I'd guess you can't pick up contacts from cash & carry for the same reason you can't pick up pescription medicines from there.

Also wouldn't recommend trying to wear them without any aftercare or training in how to put them in. If you want to risk screwing up one of your valuable eyes completely them go ahead.

Just get some cheapo glasses! If you are planning on driving at night you might want to consider anti-reflective coating (extra £££). I think that if you take your driving test wearing them you will end up with the "needs to wear glasses" code on your driving license. I guess that that means that if you get stopped by police at time once you've passed your test it is another thing they can fine you for...

Reply 9

sauce

OP

13

really?! that's a bit silly....
ill ask my ADI next time I see him :rolleyes:

Reply 10

sauce

OP

13

so should I get glasses bring them to my test and then try adn read without if I can't use my glasses? or just wear my glasses all the time just in case? :indiff:

I don't want it on my damn licence that I need them ARGGGH

Reply 11

Ethelred the Unready

Reply 12

thomasp

7

Lilian

so should I get glasses bring them to my test and then try adn read without if I can't use my glasses? or just wear my glasses all the time just in case? :indiff:

I don't want it on my damn licence that I need them ARGGGH

Nowhere does it say on my license that I need to wear glasses - and I failed my first test due to eyesight! The only codes I have say that I can do something like drive a moped on L-plates once I've passed the CBT test.

I even got a letter (quite a while) after failing my test saying that if I didn't submit proof to the DVLA that my eyes now met the required standard, they'd revoke my (provisional) license.

I'd take your glasses to the test and wear them - don't attempt to read the plate without, it'll only stress you out more if you don't manage to read it.

Reply 13

Ilora-Danon

3

An NHS voucher entitles you to free eyetests if you are under 16, are aged 16, 17 or 18 in full-time education or require complex lenses.

You get money towards the cost of your glasses depending on your prescription. A lower prescription (Voucher A) gives you £34.60 off the cost of glasses.

Reply 14

brown

4

Lilian

so should I get glasses bring them to my test and then try adn read without if I can't use my glasses? or just wear my glasses all the time just in case? :indiff:

I don't want it on my damn licence that I need them ARGGGH

I don't know where you've heard that it would be mentioned on your licence... I need glasses for driving and nowhere on my licence or any documentation does it say so.

Reply 15

Friggerpants

1

thefish_uk

That won't work... if you're buying contacts from anywhere as a person you need to provide a specification specifically for contact lenses. Of course the opticians themselves must have to get them from somewhere but I'd guess you can't pick up contacts from cash & carry for the same reason you can't pick up pescription medicines from there.

Also wouldn't recommend trying to wear them without any aftercare or training in how to put them in. If you want to risk screwing up one of your valuable eyes completely them go ahead.

Just get some cheapo glasses! If you are planning on driving at night you might want to consider anti-reflective coating (extra £££). I think that if you take your driving test wearing them you will end up with the "needs to wear glasses" code on your driving license. I guess that that means that if you get stopped by police at time once you've passed your test it is another thing they can fine you for...

I'm wearing mine from Costco as I speak.....................

Basically, what happens is you first get your perscription for your lens, then you get measured up.

Get all these details and take them to Costco, job done.

For aftercare, go to Asda, all in one soft (As they'll be soft lenses if monthly), or if they're disposalbe just throw them away.

Reply 16

Friggerpants

1

thomasp

Nowhere does it say on my license that I need to wear glasses - and I failed my first test due to eyesight! The only codes I have say that I can do something like drive a moped on L-plates once I've passed the CBT test.

I even got a letter (quite a while) after failing my test saying that if I didn't submit proof to the DVLA that my eyes now met the required standard, they'd revoke my (provisional) license.

I'd take your glasses to the test and wear them - don't attempt to read the plate without, it'll only stress you out more if you don't manage to read it.

Mine does.

On the back, under "12. codes", it say's 01, meaning I need eyesight correction.

Reply 17

kookabura

13

^^I had heard that you are meant to have a code on the back of your license if you need glasses to drive, but quite a lot of people (me inlcuded) havn't got it on the license and wore glasses for the test. It seems a bit strange as the examiner wouldn't know if you had contacts in - which means you need corrected vision to drive, and wouldn't have the code. I'm not sure if you are meant to have it or not!

Reply 18

thomasp

7

Friggerpants

Mine does.

On the back, under "12. codes", it say's 01, meaning I need eyesight correction.

The only code I have on the back of my license is 122, next to categories f, k & p. No codes next to the B category or in the space underneath...

AND I had the same examiner for both tests - the one without glasses and the one with!

Guess it just depends on your circumstances. Do you have anything "unusual" about your eyes, or a very strong prescription?

Reply 19

Friggerpants

1

122's for Mopeds, so don't worry about htat.

I think I must've ticked the box that said "Do you need support fro your eyes" when sending off for a lisence.

I had a sight test yesterday and...

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