C1 eye test - optician

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My husband is due to renew his C1 (73 years old) and has made an online appointment with Specsavers as he did three years ago when he was coming up to 70 years old.
He phoned today to check the appointment as he hadn’t had a confirmation. The appointment is fine apparently but they now don’t complete the necessary side of the form. They said that they stopped doing that a year ago.
Before I start ringing around other opticians does anyone know anything about this or had the same problem recently.
Thanks
 
I obtained a print out of my glasses prescription from Specsavers, which was dated and signed. Then took it along with the D4 medical form to the D4D appointment and the examining doctor completed all the sections including the eyesight one.

BTW there was a £10 discount on the D4D if using DRIVER10 when booking online.
 
How customer friendly of Specsavers.
I have found them friendly and the optician filled in my DVLA form for £20 from memory.
I can not understand how a D4D doctor can assess your eyes without all the modern equipment used in the opticians.

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can advise when we lived in Wales spec savers Barry were brilliant. moved to Wiltshire. Specsavers Melksham, despite 3 return visits to say these (2 pairs of the same specs & lenses) were different and couldn't see properly... No sir they are correct we have adjusted them, read this!

Yes could read the text BUT half hour later have headache and feeling .. less than optimum.

Cut a long story short went to the local boots, eye test new glasses, amazed can read really small text without lifting the glasses (varifocals).

Asked Boots could you check my old Specsavers glasses, , , seems the identical pair, one has a different prescription in the left lens.

Have contacted Specsavers and advised we will be having a chat!
 
I have found them friendly and the optician filled in my DVLA form for £20 from memory.
I can not understand how a D4D doctor can assess your eyes without all the modern equipment used in the opticians.
The test is set by the DVLA. All that is needed is a simple reading test with a standard reading chart a standard distance away. It is not an "assessment" of anything else to do with your eyes.
 
Just for information. DVLA extract.

Standards of vision for driving​

You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.

You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale(with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.

You must also have an adequate field of vision - your optician can tell you about this and do a test.

Lorry and bus drivers​

You must have a visual acuity at least 0.8 (6/7.5) measured on the Snellen scale in your best eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) on the Snellen scale in the other eye.

You can reach this standard using glasses with a corrective power not more than (+) 8 dioptres, or with contact lenses. There’s no specific limit for the corrective power of contact lenses.

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.
 
Just for information. DVLA extract.

Standards of vision for driving​

You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.

You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale(with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.

You must also have an adequate field of vision - your optician can tell you about this and do a test.

Lorry and bus drivers​

You must have a visual acuity at least 0.8 (6/7.5) measured on the Snellen scale in your best eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) on the Snellen scale in the other eye.

You can reach this standard using glasses with a corrective power not more than (+) 8 dioptres, or with contact lenses. There’s no specific limit for the corrective power of contact lenses.

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.
I have had 2 successful C1 medical examinations so far and I was not asked to read a number plate from 20 metres, and nor was my field of vision tested. Neither test is listed on the D4 form that has to be filled in by the Doctor (or Optician).
 
Another vote for D4drivers. Local test centres and they tick all the boxes, literally. My wife and I both used them this year, about £60 each.
Phil

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I have had 2 successful C1 medical examinations so far and I was not asked to read a number plate from 20 metres, and nor was my field of vision tested. Neither test is listed on the D4 form that has to be filled in by the Doctor (or Optician).
This is the eye test page of D4. 9A97EBBE-9197-44EC-ACD1-52FA489C8B92.png
 
can advise when we lived in Wales spec savers Barry were brilliant. moved to Wiltshire. Specsavers Melksham, despite 3 return visits to say these (2 pairs of the same specs & lenses) were different and couldn't see properly... No sir they are correct we have adjusted them, read this!

Yes could read the text BUT half hour later have headache and feeling .. less than optimum.

Cut a long story short went to the local boots, eye test new glasses, amazed can read really small text without lifting the glasses (varifocals).

Asked Boots could you check my old Specsavers glasses, , , seems the identical pair, one has a different prescription in the left lens.

Have contacted Specsavers and advised we will be having a chat!
Specsavers are franchises so they can vary between branches our one is very good.

We have both just had two new pairs of glasses I had a problem with mine. The reading (varifocals) didn't seem quite as clear, optician had made a mistake he had writen down no change but wrote down +2 for reading instead of +2.25.

They couldn't have been more helpful sorted out ordered new lenes and even better let me chose different frames as I wasn't too keen on the ones I'd chosen.
 
I go to my local opticians every year and they fill it in for £10 along with slightly better glasses, if it wasn't for driving the RV (9.5t) I wouldn't bother but I want my eyesight to be the best it can be driving that. I asked her this time if I was near the limit to fail and was told no, if you were I would tell you.
Then I go to D4D
 
This is the eye test page of D4.View attachment 805339
So no reading number plates from 20 yards. And no test for field of vision, unless the patient reports problems. Just a standard reading chart test, which I pass. If you fail that the DVLA my ask for a further assessment.

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So no reading number plates from 20 yards. And no test for field of vision, unless the patient reports problems. Just a standard reading chart test, which I pass. If you fail that the DVLA my ask for a further assessment.
My D4D doctor did a standard chart eye test on both eyes and a field of vision test. With and without me having my glasses on.
 
How near to your 70th birthday do you need to get this done, just asking for a friend.
 
My husband is due to renew his C1 (73 years old) and has made an online appointment with Specsavers as he did three years ago when he was coming up to 70 years old.
He phoned today to check the appointment as he hadn’t had a confirmation. The appointment is fine apparently but they now don’t complete the necessary side of the form. They said that they stopped doing that a year ago.
Before I start ringing around other opticians does anyone know anything about this or had the same problem recently.
Thanks
I believe they are required by law to give you a copy of your eye test results so that you can buy elsewhere.
 
I believe they are required by law to give you a copy of your eye test results so that you can buy elsewhere.
They are required to give you a copy of your spectacle prescription that would not contain the information to fill in the required form as it does not include visual acuities etc just the lens strength required.
Presumably people aren't going to their GP as they would charge to complete the form. I'm well retired from optometry now but would it be surprising if there was a charge to complete a driving vision form I couldn't see many other professions doing it free.
 
a month ago I had a cataract removed on a Tuesday, d4d medical on the Saturday and after wearing glasses to drive for about 8 years i now don’t need them, I read the eye chart and he filled in the D4 form, 10 days later I had my licence.

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Another vote for D4drivers. Local test centres and they tick all the boxes, literally. My wife and I both used them this year, about £60 each.
Phil
You are paying for a box tick and signature and not a medical

Took 3 minutes last time . I was in the opticians longer
 
To put it more bluntly, I am paying to keep my C1 licence entitlement. ;)
I do wonder have they ever refused? There was a similar independent who insisted on a pee sample . But you took it with you so it could have been anybodies wee :rofl:
One lad was pregnant
 
How near to your 70th birthday do you need to get this done, just asking for a friend.
The medical can be up to 4 months before & you can apply 90 days before.
If you appy 56 days or less you need to send a new photo..
For 70 and over renewals there is no charge but the form makes you think there is.
 
You are paying for a box tick and signature and not a medical

Took 3 minutes last time . I was in the opticians longer
I get what you’re saying but we took 25 minutes. End result was a C1 for another 3 years.

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I get what you’re saying but we took 25 minutes. End result was a C1 for another 3 years.
The first time I went above bristol bus station I had to explain the requirements to the doc. Tried to say I had to meet the corrected vision requirements without my specs . Doh 🤷‍♀️
 
Had my second D4drivers test for C1 last week. So easy as they are used to the process and fill in the form that GPs at 3 times the price struggle with.

The Eye test is the Snellen chart, no number plate. There is a blood pressure test and you also have to supply 3 recent readings. The rest is the doctor asking set medical questions as seen on the D4 form.

I got all this for £45 (£55 and a £10 off voucher code).
 
Never been asked to supply recent readings, just takes the pressure job done.
 
My husband still hasn’t received his C1 renewal he sent off on 23 September, nearly five weeks ago. Is this normal?

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