The College and AOP support “once-in-a-generation” reform for assessing drivers’ eyesight
The bodies are working together to prepare recommendations for Government on optometry-led mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers.
.jpg?v=bio)
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform how we ensure drivers have safe eyesight. The case for change is clear and the current system that asks drivers to self-declare their fitness to drive is no longer defensible. Only a complete clinical encounter at a sight test can detect asymptomatic conditions such as glaucoma, ensure drivers are appropriately corrected, and deliver the kind of preventive care that benefits both road safety and public health.”
Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom, Clinical Adviser at The College of Optometrists
“Ensuring that it is mandatory for all drivers to have a valid sight test delivered in optometry and supported by dispensing colleagues is a practical, common-sense solution: it’s convenient for the public, led by healthcare experts on the High Street, and enables early detection of vision problems before they become an issue that restricts a person’s ability to drive safely. By supporting drivers to maintain good sight, we can help them stay safe on the roads and independent for longer. What’s needed now is a commitment to simple measures that are easy to implement, backed by the right resources to make them work effectively and sustainably.”
Dr Peter Hampson, Clinical and Policy Director at the Association of Optometrists