DVLA withdraws extended list of notifiable eye conditions

Unfortunately, the extended list contained several technical errors and included common ocular signs and conditions, which would have resulted in many drivers with otherwise normal eye health and good levels of vision making DVLA declarations. The burden on drivers, optometrists and the DVLA would have been significant. Responding to the update, the College immediately wrote to the Chair of the DVLA medical committee to raise our concerns and urge the DVLA to withdraw the guidance. Read the letter from the College to the Chair of the medical panel.

Within hours of receiving the letter from the College’s clinical adviser, along with correspondence from other stakeholders, the DVLA have confirmed that it has withdrawn the updated list. 

The College would like to thank all the members who alerted us to the confusing gov.uk update, and we are pleased that the DVLA and .gov.uk departments responded to the College’s authoritative letter as a matter of urgency. This update could have resulted in considerable harm and confusion, so we are pleased our intervention helped result in a timely resolution. We continue to offer optometric expertise and support to the DVLA to ensure its guidance is clear and that it is correctly communicated to all healthcare professionals.