Eye tests

[nothingflash]

Hi all,

Has anyone here as part of a license application failed the eye test at the AA or wherever and subsequently obtained a certificate from an Optometrist and attempted to claim reimbursement for the additional expenses from LTNZ? I'm curious to know how you got on.

[pzkpfw]

You can claim reimbursement? The buggers owe me!

(Next time I just closed one eye).

[Jantar]

Hi all,

Has anyone here as part of a license application failed the eye test at the AA or wherever and subsequently obtained a certificate from an Optometrist and attempted to claim reimbursement for the additional expenses from LTNZ? I'm curious to know how you got on.

I tried out the eye test machine when my wife renewed her licence, and confirmed then that I couldn't pass without eye correction ( I have one bad eye). When my own renewal came around I went to the doctor for my HT medical, and part of that was an eye test. I had forgotten to take my bifocal glasses with me, but took the eye test anyway. I passed!!!!!

That tells me that there are truck drivers out there with both eyes as bad or worse than my bad eye, and that makes me scared.

[Sidewinder]

far with some of the girls around im suprised were all not going blind

[ready4whatever]

That damn tester isn't the best to look through. and my eyes are fine

[Disco Dan]

I was not aware I could obtain reimbursement. I remember paying about $60 for an independent test when I failed the LTNZ/AA eye test. I have since had a very expensive and comprehensive test done (for other reasons) and told I have no problems.

The machines the AA/LTNZ use are poorly designed and very hit and miss. I believe I read somewhere it is due to the focal point being fixed on the machines and they do not measure the variation. As well as a few variables being possible - ie distance away, if the paper forehead pad is missing the focal point moves etc. All academic really but not consistent form of testing.

[Pie]

I always had trouble with the machines at the AA, seeing only two columns instead of three. In the end I just alternate closing each eye to figure it out. Works fine.

[Clockwork]

I think that that test that so many of us fail "Three columns? I can only see two" is designed to test if you have binocular vision. The trouble is, I don't believe that drivers are required to have binocular vision in order to get a license otherwise people with only one eye (Canterbury supporters excluded) would never be allowed to drive.

Makes you wonder why they continue to fail people on that part of the test really doesn't it. I wonder if the Opticians professional body "greased a few palms" so to speak.

[MisterD]

I wonder if the Opticians professional body "greased a few palms" so to speak.

Dunno, but I'm reasonably convinced they hired some blokes with hammers to go around and give those testing machines a swift tap...

[duckonin]

Doctor failed me for HT eye test, left eye a mite weak, so I went for a test with an optician passed...Both pro's go figure..

[nothingflash]

That damn tester isn't the best to look through. and my eyes are fine

The Opto I went to said the machines are hopeless. The eyes are "made" to look forward - that's why they naturally point that way.

She reckons the test is designed to make you brain think the columns are a distance away and the problem is most people need to look down into the machine to see them. It's reasonably normal to bring text that you can't make out toward your chin to look at it, and when you look at something closer your eyes are drawn inward. She reckons as you look down and your brain "knows" the columns are no further away than the back of the machine so it thinks it must be close and causes your eyes to cross.

This she believes is the reason most people fail as their left eye sees the right column, the right eye sees the left column and the brain ignores the middle one. I guess what she was saying in a roundabout way is that I have great vision but my brain is easily lead... probably explains why I'm on here instead of doing some work!

EDIT: also explains why it works when you close one eye...

[nothingflash]

I was not aware I could obtain reimbursement. I remember paying about $60 for an independent test when I failed the LTNZ/AA eye test. I have since had a very expensive and comprehensive test done (for other reasons) and told I have no problems.

The Optometrist unoficially told me to put in a claim to LTNZ - she had heard of others being reimbursed. Cost me $75 for the eye test and $48 to redo the license. I sent them a letter last week and will give them a few weeks before I follow them up.

[firefighter]

Makes you wonder why they continue to fail people on that part of the test really doesn't it. I wonder if the Opticians professional body "greased a few palms" so to speak.

Maybe because they think it's important that drivers can see where they're going?

The machines maybe shit, but it is a means to check that people have the visual ability to drive.

Can't say iv'e ever had a problem.

[nothingflash]

The machines maybe shit, but it is a means to check that people have the visual ability to drive.

Albeit an unreliable one. I was told by the AA at the time "don't worry, not seeing the middle column happens all the time. You'll be fine at an Optometrist". As you suggest, I guess there does need to be a benchmark but it could be a tad more reliable so some people don't have to go through the added expense to prove otherwise.

[Clockwork]

Maybe because they think it's important that drivers can see where they're going?

The machines maybe shit, but it is a means to check that people have the visual ability to drive.

Can't say iv'e ever had a problem.

I was referring to the "binocular vision" part of the test, when having only monocular vision, as I pointed out, does not appear to prohibit one-eyed people from be allowed to drive.