Mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70 being proposed by HMG. Good or bad?

[RogerL]

Needs to read the dashboard instruments😜

I use varifocals for driving but can still meet/exceed the legal requirement without glasses as my distance prescription is close to zero - as are most people after cataract operations.

 

[birdman101]

I have a,ways found with Varifocals and reaction lenses with antiglare, are to dark when indoors. The reason for having Distance Driving with all the treatments, In fact ordered a new pair last week after eye test which passed the driving sight test easily.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Surely not thinking of driving with reading glasses.

I need to be able to read the roadside signs asking me if me eyesight is good enough to drive

I wear varifocals most of the time but for the computer screens I have fixed focal length glasses set to my screen distance.

 

[otherclive]

I have a,ways found with Varifocals and reaction lenses with antiglare, are to dark when indoors. The reason for having Distance Driving with all the treatments, In fact ordered a new pair last week after eye test which passed the driving sight test easily.

My Essilor transition lenses are virtually clear indoors and when driving. I explicitly selected them for that, and they only react when outdoors. Transitions do three types of reactive lenses each with different characteristics. There’s a whole thread on the topic.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I have a,ways found with Varifocals and reaction lenses with antiglare, are to dark when indoors. The reason for having Distance Driving with all the treatments, In fact ordered a new pair last week after eye test which passed the driving sight test easily.

I agree with the first sentence which is why this time around I went for Varifocals without the reaction. Cheaper as well.

In sunny conditions I use polaroid overglasses.

 

[Sam Vimes]

My Essilor transition lenses are virtually clear indoors and when driving. I explicitly selected them for that, and they only react when outdoors. Transitions do three types of reactive lenses each with different characteristics. There’s a whole thread on the topic.

Mine used to be clear indoors and when driving but overtime they became permanently tinted.

 

[Dustydog]

All these specs🙀
No idea why but I never needed specs until my 40s. Only very mild prescription. Now I need no specs, have 20/20 vision, no OPs , no specs.
Apart from the PVD last year my eyes are as good as my teens. I can read small print but prefer low dose reading glasses if it’s getting dark.
Am I the exception?

 

[RogerL]

All these specs🙀
No idea why but I never needed specs until my 40s. Only very mild prescription. Now I need no specs, have 20/20 vision, no OPs , no specs.
Apart from the PVD last year my eyes are as good as my teens. I can read small print but prefer low dose reading glasses if it’s getting dark.
Am I the exception?

I believe that gradually changing vision as one ages with increasing long-sightedness is normal with an optimum around age 20 - if you are long-sighted then you'll naturally become more long-sighted but if you're short-sighted you'll naturally become less so.

It's also normal that most people will develop cataracts over time but many will never be serious enough to justify an operation - the artifical lenses are usually chosen deliberately to give you a zero prescription, or close to it, so you won't need glasses for distance vision.

 

[birdman101]

Now in my 80’s I started wearing glasses for reading only 40 years ago. For the last 25 years have had Varifocals. I picked up my new ones last week, and when had test asked if eyes could be tested using the old fashioned way of a frame and the. Optician adding lense rather the computerised way of recent years. I can honestly say the result is the best pair of glasses I have had for some time,as when the test was completed the quality of clear vision you see is what you get, when glasses arrive. This is they way they still do tests with home visits for the Elderly.

 

[otherclive]

Now in my 80’s I started wearing glasses for reading only 40 years ago. For the last 25 years have had Varifocals. I picked up my new ones last week, and when had test asked if eyes could be tested using the old fashioned way of a frame and the. Optician adding lense rather the computerised way of recent years. I can honestly say the result is the best pair of glasses I have had for some time,as when the test was completed the quality of clear vision you see is what you get, when glasses arrive. This is they way they still do tests with home visits for the Elderly.

My opticians have always used the old method of changing lenses back and forth until I can make a decision on which one is best, before we move on.

 

[Dustydog]

My opticians have always used the old method of changing lenses back and forth until I can make a decision on which one is best, before we move on.

Is that Boots or an Indie? Vision Express (me) and Specsavers (swimbo) use the old individual lens tests plus all the latest stuff. Green / Red , which dots look best and he has a hand held Lens etc. Maybe some tech stuff takes us too far in the wrong direction?

 

[otherclive]

Is that Boots or an Indie? Vision Express (me) and Specsavers (swimbo) use the old individual lens tests plus all the latest stuff. Green / Red , which dots look best and he has a hand held Lens etc. Maybe some tech stuff takes us too far in the wrong direction?

I use Boots, who also use later stuff like yours, and my last prescription I had made up by Lensolgy for transition varifocals reglazed in to my frames.

 

[Sam Vimes]

My opticians have always used the old method of changing lenses back and forth until I can make a decision on which one is best, before we move on.

Ditto.

Gets a bit tricky at times when he asks 'Which one is better - 1 or 2" and you can't remember what the first one was like

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I think that despite your friends and neighbours responsible attitude it still doesn’t address the statistics, and if over 70s were so good why does insurance rise?

Mine has stayed the same price for the past 5 years.

 

[otherclive]

Mine has stayed the same price for the past 5 years.

Same insurance company?