If you wear glasses or contact lenses, or do not have perfect vision, you should be familiar with the vision standards required for legal driving.  Though these vary greatly state to state, below outlines the requirements for our NJ and PA patients:

New Jersey: Drivers have vision screened upon initial licensure, and may be required to have it rechecked periodically.  With or without corrective lenses, you must be at least 20/50 in one eye to drive legally.   

Pennsylvania: There is a 20/40 acuity standard upon initial licensure; if you do not meet this standard without glasses, you are referred to an eye doctor who will complete a form to be returned to the licensing center. You will be restricted to driving only with corrective lenses.  Individuals with visual acuity poorer than 20/40 with both eyes may drive with a daylight-only restriction, or certain recommendations/considerations may apply.  The horizontal field of vision must be at least 120 degrees.  

Commercial licenses may be more strict or include testing of color vision.

If you have been diagnosed with an eye disease, or are unsure whether you require glasses for driving, ask your eye doctor.  Be sure to leave your next eye appointment knowing what your vision is in each eye, with and without glasses.  

Rebecca Mueller, OD