Failed eyesight test

[sunhuntin]

A young friend went to get his license and failed the eye test...
Couldnt see the 3 sections of letters that he had to look at.. he could only see two... I looked at it and couldnt understand why he couldnt see the three.

Now apparently this is very comon.... that many cant see the three.

So it was recommended for him to go and get what is called a "Standard " test which costs $15 at the eye specialist..... he did this and passed with flying colours. It was discovered that he has a squint, which is common.

He has to do this "Standard" test everytime he goes to upgrade his license or when he renews it.

So he doesnt need glasses to drive or ride....

So if you have doubts then go and ask for the "Standard" test..
which takes a couple of minutes to do... the eye specialist know about this particular test. It is NOT a full eye test.

But if you are required to wear glasses and don't wear them and a nice police officer stops you... you can expect to have a $400 fine for breach of license conditions.

i was the same as crashe's friend....could see the numbers, then a big black spot and then the two boxes of letters, one in middle, the other on the right.
went to the opt and also the doc who both tested my eyes and passed. i do have a lazy left eye that does cause double vision when i get overtired or loose concentration, but i spent so much of my younger life watching with the double on purpose that i can see normal anyways.

[Fooman]

A young friend went to get his license and failed the eye test...
Couldnt see the 3 sections of letters that he had to look at.. he could only see two... I looked at it and couldnt understand why he couldnt see the three.

Now apparently this is very comon.... that many cant see the three.

So it was recommended for him to go and get what is called a "Standard " test which costs $15 at the eye specialist..... he did this and passed with flying colours. It was discovered that he has a squint, which is common.

He has to do this "Standard" test everytime he goes to upgrade his license or when he renews it.

So he doesnt need glasses to drive or ride....

So if you have doubts then go and ask for the "Standard" test..
which takes a couple of minutes to do... the eye specialist know about this particular test. It is NOT a full eye test.

But if you are required to wear glasses and don't wear them and a nice police officer stops you... you can expect to have a $400 fine for breach of license conditions.

Yeah, I get this too. The left eye sees two columns [A B], the right eye sees [B C] and together you're supposed to see [A B C]. All I saw was was two indecipherable characters as the A/B and B/C overlapped. Simple solution however - read the first two columns with the right eye closed, then read the last with left eye closed.

Yes, I do have moderate shortsightenedness and astigmatism, but this was with my glasses on!

FM

[James Deuce]

monocular vision? You can only see out of one eye? That's pretty bad, there.

No you can see out of both eyes, but your brain only processes the image from one at any given time. Plays havoc with depth perception. A lot of inadvertant tailgaters have this condition.

[Drum]

Not quite Mr Banks. I can see out of both eyes perfectly well. But rather than seeing out of both eyes at the same time, apparantly I see out of one eye at a time, but alternate quickly between them (or something).

The terrible side effect is that fat chicks look real good after about 10 Heinies!

[inlinefour]

Those machines are shit anyway mate. I rmember failing my learners because the machine broke and they couldn't do my eyesite. ARGH!!!!

Don't worry though, you will fly through next time

I have never done that test and allways get the letter from the eye specialist which does the trick

[Redstar]

I have never done that test and allways get the letter from the eye specialist which does the trick

well mate being that your so safety consious and all is your eye site Bugg**d or not? the test is not a problem for me but then I gave up W**king at an early age..

[mops]

Thanks for input guys and gals.

Reason i went to that place is that a friend of mine, who's eyesight is really buggered (glasses like beer bottle bottoms) went there, and he just asked the optometrist not to put it on his drivers license, and it was no problem. However he went there to get glasses in the first place, not to get tested...

I did get my prescription from that place, but they wouldnt give me the certificate for the LTSA without having glasses.

Ideally I'd like to visit an eye doctor, one that doesnt have a shop that sells glasses, just to elimiate the 'sell' factor... I do not mind paying for proper consultation. If anyone knows such place, then give me a pm.

Serioulsy, I feel that my eyesight is in good condition. Maby not hawk/eagle eye, but certainly nothing that would impact my daily life in any way... and I'm IT pro, so I stare at screens all day long.

[MacD]

I do not have 20/20 vision any more, but I do dont think my eyesight is that bad, and I never wore glasses and I never thought I should.

so I went to the optometrist to get an eyecheck...
he told me that I have light astigmatism (left eye 0.75 and right eye 1.25) and I dont have to wear my glasses for driving/riding durning the day, but I should at night, therefore he insisted that I get glasses (from his shop of course) and he noted on my eyesight cert that I have to wear glasses for driving/riding.

The vision requirement is 6/12 (20/40 in old money) binocularly (both eyes open) and 140 degrees horizontal visual field.

6/12 means that the smallest letters you can read are twice the size that a "standard" observer could read at a 6m distance (added distance to confirm the point Lou makes below - it is a distance test not a near test - the screening machine presents the letter optically at a 6m distance)

If you can't get 6/12 unaided then the optometrist is required by law to note that you need glasses to drive on the eyesight test form (note: this is only if you are specifically being tested in order to complete the form, if it's just a normal eye test there is no form therefore no requirement if you see what I mean - maybe the source of confusion regarding your friend)

(I kinda dont understand this one, as it's not his duty to enforce me whether i drive with or without glasses).

Actually it is...in fact Optometrists are even legally obliged to inform the LTSA if they believe a driver is continuing to drive with substandard vision (although this is a rare occurrence).

I'd suggest getting a second opinion, and you can always ask for your prescription and get it filled elsewhere.

[Flyingpony]

Yeah, I get this too. The left eye sees two columns [A B], the right eye sees [B C] and together you're supposed to see [A B C]. All I saw was was two indecipherable characters as the A/B and B/C overlapped. Simple solution however - read the first two columns with the right eye closed, then read the last with left eye closed.

Ditto.

Also always get my test done first thing in the morning when everything is all nice and fresh from sleeping. Least likely then to fail that darn horrible eye sight test.

[ducatilover]

i failed my eye test for cage and bike both times but i got an optometrist woman [good lookn she was] to test my eyes and she said my eyes were good and voila

[DogBreath]

Yeah, I get this too. The left eye sees two columns [A B], the right eye sees [B C] and together you're supposed to see [A B C]. All I saw was was two indecipherable characters as the A/B and B/C overlapped. Simple solution however - read the first two columns with the right eye closed, then read the last with left eye closed.

Yes, I do have moderate shortsightenedness and astigmatism, but this was with my glasses on!

FM

Yep. I did that too, passed easily.
Started to say that I could see them when I closed one eye and the women at the testing facility leapt in with "you can't do that blah blah blah..."
So I said I opened both eyes and just read it out.
Do it, just don't say wot you do.

[inlinefour]

well mate being that your so safety consious and all is your eye site Bugg**d or not? the test is not a problem for me but then I gave up W**king at an early age..

You know me? Definitely does not sound like it mate. You might be anally retentive about safety but it does not often pay to spout out at the mouth when you know nothing about what your saying. As your a tad ignorant I will educate you.
I wear prescription glasses, have done since a very young age. Now when I wear my glasses, I have 20/20 vision. However I am as blind as a possum in the midday sun without them. Hence it is a requirement that I allways wear glasses. Now this might be just a piss take, I dont know or care. But if its not I seriously doubt your last comment...

[Lou Girardin]

The vision requirement is 6/12 (20/40 in old money) binocularly (both eyes open) and 140 degrees horizontal visual field.

6/12 means that the smallest letters you can read are twice the size that a "standard" observer could read.
.

This is basically correct, there is no standard for astigmatism. If you meet the minimum standard your licence cannot be endorsed "requiring glasses".

The LTNZ approved eyesight testers are notorious for inaccuracy, yet they've refused to remedy the problem. After all, it's not their money wasted on unecessary tests.

Get a second opinion.

[geoffm]

Those eye testing machines are a crock of fertilizer. A lot of people have trouble with them, and I have to wonder how well they measure what they are supposed to measure. Based on Auckland drivers, I would say not very well...
Glasses are a lot cheaper in the US, via internet Mail order once you have the prescription. Have a look at the archives on Bruce Simpson's site (www.aardvark.co.nz) where he gives a review and US site where he got his (update: http://www.aardvark.co.nz/daily/2005/0407.shtml) . The difference was easily over $200 a pair for the same thing. The price made getting several pairs (so you have spares, or workshop ones) a possibliltiy
Geoff

[Big Chim]

But if you are required to wear glasses and don't wear them and a nice police officer stops you... you can expect to have a $400 fine for breach of license conditions.

Heres a question, I dont wear glasses but to my understanding, if you are suppose to wear glasses when you drive/ride it is on your license there for the cops to pick up on if they site your license, so if your riding with contacts in how do you prove to the cops you have them in?? take one out??

Couldnt you say you had them in if you didnt when you got pulled over if they can't check it? provided you were'nt on the wrong side of the road on the motorway of course. save $400 if you got away with it?