Eyesight tests

Good vision is essential for safe driving.

Even a small loss of vision can affect your ability to drive safely, including the capacity to:

• read road or warning signs
• identify coloured signals like traffic lights
• see hazards, pedestrians or other vehicles
• judge gaps between moving vehicles or the distance of oncoming traffic.

Changes to your vision

If you notice changes to your vision, or develop a vision impairment, you should make an appointment with a health professional. You will need to find out whether your vision may affect your ability to drive.

Depending on the advice they give, the MVR may add a condition to your licence that would require you to wear corrective lenses while driving.

If you no longer need to wear corrective lenses, you can provide a vision assessment to have the condition removed. You must get a health professional to carry it out.

You may also need to provide periodic vision assessments to ensure you continue to meet the relevant vision standards for the class of licence you have.

Other reasons you may need an eyesight test

A standard eyesight test is needed to ensure you meet the minimum visual acuity standards as outlined in the AFTD guidelines to hold a driver licence.

You will need to pass an eyesight test if you are applying:

• for a learner licence for the first time
• to upgrade to a commercial licence for the first time
• to transfer an overseas driver licence.

Getting tested

If you don’t have a vision or eye disorder that may affect your ability to drive, there are 2 ways you can have your eyesight tested:

• at an MVR office or
• provide an eye examination from your doctor or optometrist dated within the last 3 months.

If you complete the eyesight test while wearing corrective lenses, a condition will be applied to your licence that will require you to use corrective lenses while driving.

If you can’t pass the basic visual acuity test taken at an MVR office, you must get a vision assessment from an eye health professional.