Just straight up — what are my chances of getting my licence back?
I’ve already informed the DVLA through their website, but I’m not sure what happens next or what I should be doing in the meantime. Has anyone been through this process and can share their experience?
Like many of you, my world has been turned upside down. I’ve recently had lens replacement surgery, which means for the first time in 27 years I don’t need glasses. The surgery went really well, but at my recent eye test I failed the visual field test, and my licence has now been suspended.
I’d really appreciate any advice or insight on what to expect, how long the process might take, and whether there’s any chance of getting my licence back.
I am pretty sure many have experienced what you have and many battles have been fought with the DVLA in trying to get driving licences back. There are already plenty of posts on this forum on the subject and you can search for and read these using the search function which you might recognise as the magnifying glass
I think the simple answer to your question has to be you would first have to pass the visual field test at your recent eye test that has resulted in your licence being suspended. If this is dependent on how well your eye recovers from the lens replacement surgery and corrects the visual field defect then maybe this might be a question for the ophthalmologist who performed the lens replacement or perhaps the optician who carried out the eye test.
I wish you all the best in your recovery and for getting your licence unsuspended.
I’m currently trying to get my licence back. Not quite the same situation as you. I had seizures as part of my stroke and so had to give up driving for 12 months. My 12 months expired in January and I am still waiting for the DVLA to decide if I can have my licence back. My GP sent the forms back months ago. I have passed an eye test and visual field test. It has been sat waiting for the medical team to review it since June. It’s a very slow and frustrating process.
Hi @Lisa & welcome to the community. Sorry you’ve had cause to join us, but hopefully you’ll find it a useful place to be.
I imagine to get your licence back your sight will have to improve enough for you to pass the visual field test. How long any improvement will take is different for everyone & the best people to advise on this are the ophthalmology people. @mrfrederickson has recently been given the go ahead to have a driving assessment after his sight had improved enough. He may be able to share his experience with you.
Thanks for sharing that link. I have to retake a visual field test on Weds after failing it, which came as a complete surprise as i had passed a previous one. I will give it a look.
Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to reply to me. My world has become a very small and scary place. I live in the countryside, very rural with no public transport and part of my job is arranging and hosting public consultation events for national infrastructure. I am really struggle to come to terms with the lost of my licence. I have what they call I believe Right homonymous inferior quadrantanopia, I was clinging to the inferior part that maybe if I can pass some hazard perception tests I may get my licence back after time. It very isolating and I don’t know anyone else who has gone through this. Would you be so kind to keep in touch and let me know how things progress I do so hope you’re able to get your licence back soon. I have included my results as I am confused the DVLA say you must have " You must have an uninterrupted horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees with an extension of at least 70 degrees left and right and 30 degrees up and down. No defects should be present within a radius of the central 30 degrees" looking at my results have lost 22% I am not sure how to work out what I have remaining. Kindest regards, Lisa
Hi Lisa - I also have right inferior homonymous Quadrantanopia!
And…. I AM NOW DRIVING.
The remaining vision I have is exceptional which obviously massively helps, I’d had laser eye surgery about 10 years before.
I had to go through the exceptional license process which took about 4-5 months. It’s starts with getting your orthoptist to complete the form the DVLA sent when the revoked your license once your eyes have been stable for a year.
I’ve previously posted about what the process and what the driving assessment entails-feel free to look at my previous comments as they’ll apply to you.
So DON’T be disheartened… everything crossed for you. Xx
At arms length and without scanning my finger disappears in the affected upper left quadrant.
After 17 months I have been granted a pro visional disability licence, are taking driving lessons at a mobility centre, and waiting for the formal on road assessment and tests.
I think homonymous Quadrantanopia must feel significantly different to hemianopia. I’m sorry you find it a real challenge but I think the lower quadrant loss is easier because when you look into the distance I think you use more of the upper quadrants.
I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you, the more that’s missing the harder it must be.
If I put my right arm ahead and make the peace sign and fix my vision at the bottom of my 2 fingers, I can see my hand clearly and it’s my upper arm and to the right of it that I can’t see.
I don’t notice when I’m eating.
I drove for 2 months post stroke & quadrant loss as I didn’t realise I’d had a stroke, I just thought it was a mega migraine.
I am always really surprised at just how much vision the test shows I have lost.
When I’m driving and looking ahead it’s my right hand in the steering wheel and the lower dashboard on the right that I can’t see… (but I don’t need to see there), but when I look to see if something is coming I must naturally just move my eyes unconsciously to make sure I’ve seen the whole of the road… it’s not conscious but I reckon if I was able to compare my eye movements pre and post stroke, I must scan a bit to cover all the road, but it’s not a conscious thing, I satisfy myself that the coast is clear, just as I would have before.
Does that help to explain it?
I sometimes try to explain to full sighted people that I don’t have a blank space where I can’t see, it’s more like the shape of my vision field has changed… whereas fully sighted people probably have roughly a circle or oval shaped field of vision, mines just a wonky shape now but with small eye movements or head movements I compensate. I’m not sure I’m explaining very well, but that’s how it feels to me.
I had to build up my confidence with driving as driving KNOWING I’d got a sight deficit was psychologically very different to driving when you didn’t know!
Wishing you well and I’m happy to answer any more questions xx
I put a post on here in late July entitled something like “what the driving assessment entails”… search for that and have a read, I hope it’ll help you know what to expect.
