Some people are born with just a single eye. Others may lose an eye at some point in their lives while others may end up losing the vision in one eye. Either of these cases can be considered monocular vision loss. But can you drive with one eye?
First off, some reasons behind monocular vision loss include cancer in the eye, diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma, infection, and trauma.
If you experience vision only in one eye, you can drive a non-commercial vehicle in any of the 50 states in the USA.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you want to drive a non-commercial car such as a Ford Taurus or even a racy Ford Mustang, you will still be required to pass an eye exam and show that your vision is acute and that your peripheral vision is good.
There are instances where you may even be allowed to drive a commercial vehicle for instance a truck.
Driving Vision Requirements
When it comes to commercial licenses the federal vision standards are quite strict. That said there aren’t any international standards. There are also no federal standards for non-commercial passenger vehicle licenses that are unrestricted.
The District of Columbia as well as the individual states will also have their vision requirements which will pertain to renewing a driver’s license. They can of course be quite different from state to state.
1. What Is Visual Disability
The World Health Organization has listed different categories of visual disability. According to WHO, the definition of low vision is visual acuity that is between 20/60 and 20/200.
It could also be a corresponding loss of the visual field that is less than 20 degrees in the better eye. This is with the best correction.
Blindness on the other hand can be defined as visual acuity of under 20/400 or a corresponding loss of visual field to less than 10 degrees in the good eye with the best possible correction.
The taxpayer is required by the Social Security Administration who is disabled to fulfill their economic purposes and who can be considered qualified for supplemental income.
This is if the best corrected visual acuity is 20/200 or even worse in the better eye, or they have a visual field that is only 20 degrees or under in the good eye or even both eyes.
Generally, the normal testing parameters that are accepted include a visual acuity that is incorrect in both eyes, a BCVA or Best Corrected Visual Acuity in both eyes as well as monocular or binocular vision.
Some states will ask for diplopia, monocularly as well as impaired night vision. They may also ask for a history of retinitis pigments as well as any other deteriorating eye disease.
2. Unrestricted Licenses
A license that is unrestricted means that the driver can drive the vehicle without the need to use coercive lenses.
Furthermore, the driver can drive for any amount of distance as well as in all light conditions. The driver may also drive both during the day and during the night.
And that’s not all, the driver may drive on any road and drive at whichever legal speed they deem fit and drive any vehicle with normal equipment and without adding add special mirrors.
The restriction that is the most common requires drivers to use coercive lenses whenever they are on the road.
3. License Restrictions
Restrictions which come about as a result of vision testing will be different from one state to another. These restrictions will also include a mandated wearing of corrective lenses. This will further limit the driving from sunrise to sunset as well as restrict the driving only to areas where the driving is involved.
Furthermore, there would also be a prohibition or restriction on driving on the freeways. Furthermore, drivers will require additional mirrors such as panoramic mirrors, wide-angle mirrors, and right and left outside mirrors.
When it comes to the state of Montana, there is a restricted license that could perhaps restrict driving from home to the grocery store, driving to church, or driving to the hospital or clinic.
Note that there may also be restrictions on window tinting.
The majority of states will allow drivers to make use of telescopic lenses as well as to prove their competency with the use of other visual assistance devices.
The parameter used for testing that will be different from one state to the other is visual acuity. All of the states in the US have their visual acuity requirement that will help qualify a driver for licensure.
It’s only 3 states that have not yet set the BCVA or minimum Best Corrected Visual Acuity of 20/40 in the better eye.
The state of Georgia demands a BCVA of 20/60 at least in the better eye.
New Jersey as well as Wyoming will require a BCVA of 20/50.
4. Horizontal Visual Field Requirements
When it comes to the horizontal visual file requirements, these are more varied. Up to 16 different states in the US don’t have a required visual field testing not unless the drivers have a referral from an eye care specialist having failed a visual acuity test or if they passed the visual acuity test using a telescopic lens.
For up to 34 states which have a horizontal visual field requirement, 15 of these require 140 degrees, and 19 demand anywhere from 105 to 130 degrees.
So can you drive with one eye? Maine for instance demands 150 degrees. There are several other states which will list horizontal dimensions of visual field applicants that have vision in one eye. These could range from 55 degrees Kansas to 105 degrees.
There are states such as North Carolina or Texas that will not provide a driver’s license to anyone who has homonymous hemianopia. This is a lack of vision in the left half or the right half of both their eyes.
It is only Kentucky that offers a virtual visual field requirement that is 25 degrees below or above the fixation point.
Other states will make it clear which age drivers should begin getting routine vision testing. This could be from 62 and often between 65 to 70.
As for how frequently the follow-up testing is, this will vary between states. In the state of Illinois, applicants will be required to take an annual vision test at the age of 87.
5. Unique State Restrictions
The state of Massachusetts will also have cool vision requirements. The driver needs to be in a position to distinguish between green, red and amber colors.
If the applicants are not able to distinguish between green, red as well as amber colors then they will not be licensable.
In the state of Mississippi applicants who do not pass the eye care specialists, depth perceptions tests are only allowed to drive at a maximum speed of 45mph.
The state of Ohio will require applicants that have been referred with vision restrictions should go to an eye specialist that is affiliated with the Ohio State University School of Optometry or Vision Rehabilitation of Akron.
In case it is a requirement, the applicant must also go for training as well as evaluation at any of the two institutions.
In the state of Utah, applicants who are unable to meet all vision testing parameters will not receive a license.
While you could easily reason that drivers who have poor vision or limited vision could cause them to be more prone to accidents, one would also argue that there haven’t been public reports that have proven this to be true.
That said, having strict vision requirements for applicants for non-commercial and well as commercial vehicle licenses would help to eliminate inconsistencies between states, as well making it simple to compare accident rates between states, and ultimately help to reduce the number of accidents on the road that would be a result of poor accidents.
6. The Physician’s Role
The role of the physician is to offer a report of potential physical as well as mental issues that could affect negatively the ability of the patient to drive is a subject that has sparked the interest of many over the years.
That said having a negotiation with the patient could be one reason why reporting could be unnecessary.
In such instances where it can be proven that there is impairment of driving coupled with a threat to both the safety of the public as well as the patient and where the physician advises that the applicant should not continue with driving is disregarded.
The physician in this case could notify the department of motor vehicles about the condition of the driver.
Drive With One Eye
If you have monocular vision there is an upside and a downside to driving.
Can you drive with one eye? The downside is that your driving will be negatively affected by the lack of vision in one eye. There isn’t any way around this fact.
This, therefore, means that you will need to deal with perception issues as well as having a limited field of vision.
On the upside, however, is that the body will be able to compensate to still allow you to be a good driver. This over-compensation could cause one to be an even better driver.
Why and how you may wonder, well because drivers who can only see with one eye will overcompensate with their other senses.
That said there are also a few more things that you can do to ensure that you are a better driver even while you may have vision in one eye.
Can You Drive With One Eye, Driving Tips #1 – Don’t Use The Phone While Driving
Can you drive with one eye and use the phone? It is never a good idea to use the phone even when you don’t have acute vision. If you have vision in one eye, you lack peripheral; vision whenever your good eye is looking straight ahead.
Just do yourself a favor and keep the phone away.
Some drivers will find the need to use a GPS which is set directly ahead on the windscreen or the dashboard. This would therefore mean getting your good eye off the road for a short while.
This is a skill that you will need to be hone. If you doubt that you will be able to drive well with the GPS or the dashboard, the best thing is to avoid this altogether.
Can You Drive With One Eye, Driving Tips #2 – Make Use Of Landmarks
Can you drive with one eye? When it comes to depth perception, for the most part, this one isn’t going to be a major problem when driving on the road for most drivers who have vision in one eye.
This is because having vision in both eyes isn’t much better than having eyesight in one eye. This is especially at distances of more than 20 feet. It is when things start getting close that things get a bit tricky.
Think of parking when the space is tight.
Drivers may find a lot of benefits when they utilize landmarks such as buildings
Whenever you want to judge distance you may find that moving the car whether you drive a simple Buick or a new-age Rivian, a little from left to right could result in parallax between a couple of points. This will help you make a better judgment of the distance.
Can You Drive With One Eye, Driving Tips #3 – Use A Copilot
Whenever you are driving you may also want to make the most of your passengers. This could be a friend or a wife or a husband. Ask them to spot you if looking to emerge from the traffic. This is if they are on the side where you are blind.
You may also want to consider your passenger to spot if you at looking to pull up into a tight spot. It’s far better than ending up hitting a vehicle when on the road.
Furthermore, you may also want to consider them for navigation. Ask them to check out for signs or even check the GPS for you. There are instances, you may even consider letting them drive.
If you are still a better driver than your passenger, you could still let them drive but also help them in navigation.
Can You Drive With One Eye, Driving Tips #4 – Research The Route
This may come across as common sense that anyone could apply even if you have full and acute vision in both your eyes. But the great thing about researching this is that you will be able to avoid the obstacles.
Let’s assume you are driving in an urban area that is likely going to be busy. You can use Google Maps’ Street View which will help you view what the exit is going to be like.
You will also perhaps want to check out other interchanges or better turns that you can make.
Whenever you are driving you may consider using a GPS with voice navigation. This will help you choose your way without having to take your eye off the road.
The Google Maps app is great when it comes to voice navigation. You may also consider using Waze.
So can you drive with one eye? If you want to change from using the visual map to a voice map, this is entirely up to you. Many people would choose the visual app but if you only have vision in one eye, noise navigation is great.
Can You Drive With One Eye, Driving Tips #5 – Choose A Parking Lot That Is Simple To Enter And Exit
When it comes to monocular driving one of the more challenging parts of driving is getting into and out of a parking lot. There are times when you may want to squeeze from a tight sport.
However, it is also often a pain to get out of the parking lot.
Whenever you are reversing your vehicle from a parking lot, you need to also be aware of the cars that come from the right, and the left and be aware of the cars that are directly behind you. If you have a single eye that is working properly this can prove to be a bit tough.
Situations could be better whenever there are no cars on both the right side and the left side. And there are no large cars that block the field of vision.
Here’s a tip just in case you realize that you are in a parked situation that is a bit complicated. You may want to get out of your vehicle and walk all around outside. This will allow you to have a visual idea of what the environment looks like.
This will allow you to make all the right choices regarding maneuvering your vehicle.
It can prove useful to get out of the vehicle and take things in.
Can You Drive With One Eye, Driving Tips #6 – Making Use Of The Blind Spot Mirrors
The majority of right-side mirrors on brand-new cars will help with seeing the blind spots. However, it is always a good idea to have more visibility on both sides of the car. This is something to also keep in mind if you drive a truck with a truck cap.
You will be able to find small blind spot mirrors which you can pick up at a fairly small price. Yet prove highly beneficial for those poor visibility sections
Can You Drive With One Eye, Driving Tips #7 – Keep Your Car In Mind
Even if you have monocular vision, you could still drive plenty of different cars. This can be anywhere from cars to trucks and even station wagons.
That said you will often find that you are better off with a smaller car that offers better visibility. You will also find that easier whenever you sit up in a commanding position.
You will even find that if you sit in a position where you can see all the lanes, you will be in an even better position. This is especially the case whenever you are driving in poor weather.
This is the type of sitting that you will lily find in a small SUV. That said, you may also do this in a sedan.
DOT Eye Test
For you to pass the DOT eye test, you need to have at least 20/20 vision in both eyes while not having glasses. The field of vision should also be at least 70 degrees for each eye.
Furthermore, you will need to be able to recognize the different color lights that you find in traffic lights. These are green, red, and amber.
If to correct your vision you will need glasses you must wear at all times during your driving. More so this is a factor that will be in the certificate. It will say “qualified only if wearing corrective lenses”.
That said if you decide to use contact lenses you may also find these more effective. This is as long as you are accustomed to wearing contact lenses. However, note that it is not permissible to use contact lenses.
This eye test helps to ensure that as a driver your vision is natural and sufficient enough to enable you to operate a vehicle safely. The DOT eye test will check for distance vision, color blindness as well as peripheral vision.
Blind People Driving
The majority of drivers know that it is not practical to allow blind people to drive. This is because of all the decisions one must make when driving. The driver needs to make decisions very often and very quickly by utilizing visual cues and information.
However, there could be technological shifts soon that increase the chances for blind people driving. Think of semi-autonomous vehicles like Teslas.
That said, what the majority of people still do not get is the definition of blindness. As far as legal definition go is not to means that one has total vision loss. It is rare to get total blindness whenever the driver is completely unable to get even the slightest visual feedback.
In this case, it is called no light perception.
What is more common however is legal blindness. This is where someone has 20/200 vision or even worse when using correcting lenses in your best eye. It could also be defined as having a visual field of 20 degrees or even less on your best eye.
Low vision on the other hand is visual acuity of 20/70 in the best eye when wearing correcting lenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Blind People Drive
Blind people may not be able to drive whether practically or legally, that said some states will allow low-vision people to drive under specific conditions. Provided that they also still have a pretty good field of vision.
Can People Drive With One Eye
If you have vision only on in it it is still possible for you to dive a non-commercial vehicle in the 50 states including the District of Columbia. That said, you will still be required to pass an eye exam to ensure that you still have peripheral vision.
What Vision Do You Need To Drive
To qualify for a driving license drivers need to have visual acuity of 6/12 or above. This simply means that after taking an eye test you should read the fifth line which will be at the bottom of the chart.
