Henry Greene, OD, FAAOBioptic Driving, Low Vision ResourcesLeave a Comment
Losing one’s drivers license or never being eligible for one because of reduced vision is undoubtedly a bummer. There are ways to get around without driving yourself, but the independence and enhanced quality of life one gains from being able to drive (not to mention the ‘right of passage’ of a driver’s license for teenagers) is hard to argue. Most US states have adopted bioptic driving laws, allowing individuals with a certain acuity and degree
... READ MORE.Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 in the better eye, with or without corrective lenses : Unrestricted license
20/100 in the better eye : Restricted license
Field of Vision
110 degrees in the horizontal meridian
Sources
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/200 or better in one or both eyes through the carrier lens (eyeglasses)
AND must be 20/70 or better in one or both eyes through the bioptic telescopic lens
Visual acuity exceeding 20/100 : No license.
Field of Vision
Field of Vision must be 70 degrees or better. If one eye only, standard is 40 degrees or better temporal and 30 degrees nasal.
Sources
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) with or without corrective lenses : Unrestricted license
Field of View
120 degrees combined horizontal
At least 60 degrees temporal and 60 degrees nasal if one eye
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
No
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) with or without corrective lenses : Unrestricted license
20-50 – 20/100 (in the better eye) : Restricted license
Field of View
120 degrees horizontal and 20 degrees vertical
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
Acuity of 20/50 – 20/70 daytime/restricted license (no bioptic)
Acuity of 20/80 – 20/200 with use of bioptic to gain 20/40 acuity
*DL-63 form from eye specialist to write in “driving” acuity for DPS
Field of View
140 degrees uninterrupted visual field (180 degrees is full field)
Source
(pg 4)
https://www.tsbvi.edu/optical-device-training-forms
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet visual standard.
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) : Unrestricted license
20/60 (in the better eye) : Restrictioned license
Anything worse than 20/60 requires that the driver use a left outside mirror.
Source
(pg 7)
https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/OlderDriversBook/pages/Ch9-Section1.html
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 : Unrestricted license
20/200 through a carrier lens, and a minimum of 20/60 through the bioptic : Restricted license
The power of the bioptic telescope shall not exceed four powers (4x),
*The applicant shall present certification of having completed training in the use of a bioptic telescope for driving purposes. This certification shall be obtained from an optometrist or ophthalmologist identified by a recognized professional organization as one especially qualified in the field of Low Vision care or, from a Certified Rehabilitation Person.
Field of View
Minimum of 150 degree horizontal visual field
Source
(pg 18-20)
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet visual standard.
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/120 in the better functioning eye through the carrier lens.
20/40 through the bioptic telescope.
Field of View
Binocular horizontal visual field must be at least 120 degrees. Vertical field must be at least 80 degrees.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet visual standard.
Minimum Visual Acuity
Field of View
115 degree using both eyes in the horizontal meridian or 40 degrees nasally and 75 degrees temporally using one eye
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet visual standard.
Minimum Visual Acuity
Field of View
Unrestricted license is granted if minimum horizontal visual field of 120 degrees.
Source
(pg. 3-6)
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet visual standard.
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (is met using both eyes) : Unrestricted license
20/70 (using both eyes) : Restricted License
Field of View
Unrestricted license is granted if minimum visual field of 110 degrees.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/60 (in the better eye) with/without corrective lenses : Unrestricted
20/100 (in one or both eyes) : Restricted
Field of View
Unrestricted license granted if visual field is at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in one or both eyes. Restricted license granted if visual field is not narrower than 60 degrees in the horizontal meridian of one or both eyes.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but there are many restrictions for this process – see links below for details
Minimum Visual Acuity
Field of View
If applicant has greater than 70 degrees of vision from a target in each eye, the license is unrestricted.
If one eye is comprised, it must have 45 degrees of field from the target in that eye and greater than 70 degrees in the other eye for a restricted license.
If the field is worse in either eye, no license is granted.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/130 acuity through the carrier lens and 20/40 through the telescope, and full peripheral fields
*Whenever the visual acuity is less than 20/80 or field of vision less than 105 degrees, the medical advisory board may, upon request of the drivers license and traffic safety division, review the case and make their recommendations to the director of the department of transportation or the director’s agent.
*See PDF below for details of restricted license.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/60 : Unrestricted license.
20/60 – 20/100 : Must have a recommendation by the vision specialist and pass the road test.
20/100 – 20/350 : Must have a vision report approved by Driver Review.
20/400 : Requires the Medical Advisory Board to be present in addition to the Driver
Review.
Field of Vision
The field of view less than 110 degrees requires approval from a vision specialist.
If one eye, field of view less than 155 degrees requires a driving test.
Source
https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/OlderDriversBook/pages/Kansas.html
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet visual standards.
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (with both eyes and 20/30 with one eye) : Unrestricted license
20/50 – 20/70 : Restricted license (Day-time only)
Field of Vision
Not Specified
Source
https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/forms/documents/dsmv61.pdf
https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/driver-licensing/apply/testing.htm
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/50 : Unrestricted license
Visual acuity exceeding 20/50 : Restricted license and doctor certification required
Field of Vision
Not Specified
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet visual standards.
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (in better eye) : Unrestricted license
20/50 – 20/80 : Restricted license
Field of Vision
120 degrees in the horizontal meridian, with at least 30 degrees in the nasal field of one eye.
Source
https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/OlderDriversBook/pages/NewMexico.html
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (in better eye with bioptic and 20/100 with carrier lenses) : Unrestricted license
20/50 – 20/80 : Restricted license
20/80 – 20/100 (in better eye and 20/40 with bioptic) : Restricted license
Field of Vision
Requires minimum of 140 degree horizontal visual field.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (with bioptic and 20/120 with corrective lenses) : Possible restricted license
Field of Vision
Field of vision 140 degrees with both eyes.
Field of vision between 110 and 140 degrees with both eyes, restricted license.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 : Unrestricted license
20/50 – 20/70 : Restricted license (see source link for list of 17 restrictions)
If visual acuity exceeds 20/70 : No license
Field of Vision
Minimum field of vision 140 degrees both eyes, if less than 100 degrees, license denied.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/70 (with bioptic and 20/200 with just corrective lenses) : Restricted license
Field of Vision
A field of 70 degrees horizontal vision with both eyes.
If only one eye, a field of 40 degrees temporal and 30 degrees nasal horizontal vision.
Source
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet vision requirements.
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 : Unrestricted license
20/50 – 20/160 : Restricted license
Visual acuity exceeding 20/160: No license
Field of Vision
The standard minimum peripheral reading is at least 55 degrees in both eyes or 85 degrees in one eye
Source
https://dor.mo.gov/pdf/Chapter2.pdf
https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/olderdriversbook/pages/Missouri.html
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/50 (with bioptic and 20/200 with corrective lenses) : Unrestricted license
20/60 – 20/70 : Restricted license
Visual acuity exceeding 20/200 : No license
*Bioptic must not exceed 4x power
Field of Vision
A horizontal field of at least 105 degrees (one or both eyes).
Source
https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/olderdriversbook/pages/Mississippi.html
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (in one or both eyes) : Unrestricted license.
20/50 – 20/70 : Restricted license (speed)
20/70 – 20/100 : Case-by-case restricted license
20/100 : No license
Field of Vision
The visual field of 105 degrees or greater in the horizontal diameter with either one usable eye or with both eyes for Unrestricted license.
The visual field of 105 degrees or less in the horizontal diameter with either one usable eye or with both eyes for restricted license.
Source
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/pdf/7410.2400/2014-01-18%2007:38:58+00:00
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40: Unrestricted license.
20/50 – 20/70 : Restricted license or 20/60 with recognizable progressive abnormalities affecting vision
Field of Vision
A peripheral field of vision of 140 degrees or less to and including 110 degrees (with special permission from eye doctor) for unrestricted license.
A peripheral field of vision of 110 degrees or less to and including 90 degrees for restricted license.
Source
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/Vision_Standards_19484_7.pdf
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40: Unrestricted license.
20/50 – 20/70 : Restricted license
* Uses a bioptic telescope which meets all of the following criteria:
a. Monocular (The telescope must be on one eye only; telescopes over both eyes are not acceptable for licensing purposes.)
b. Fixed focus (Telescopes that need to be rotated to focus are not acceptable.
c. No greater than 3x (Magnification must not exceed three times.)
Field of Vision
The field of view less than 110 degrees in both eyes.
Source
https://bit.ly/3g0tl9K (pg. 27)
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 : Unrestricted
20/50 – 20/70 : Restricted license
20/70 – 20/100 : Require special handling by the MVA’s Glen Burnie Headquarters for restricted license
Field of Vision
Minimum 110 degrees using both eyes, with 35 degrees lateral to midline of each side.
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
*If bioptic is used to meet the visual standard, the license will be daytime only.
20/40 (in one eye) : Unrestricted
20/50 – 20/60 : Restricted license and requires annual vision and road tests.
Visual acuity exceeding 20/70 : No license
Field of Vision
No minimum field of vision is necessary.
Sources
https://itd.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/driver_manual.pdf. (pg 31)
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes, but bioptic is not permitted to meet visual standards. If visual acuity is met (without the bioptic), bioptic may be worn for the road test and for driving.
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) : Unrestricted license.
20/50 – 20/100 (in the better eye) : Restricted daytime-only license.
Visual acuity exceeding 20/100 : No license.
Field of Vision
The minimum visual field must be 110 degrees
https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/licenses/250c003.docx (Pg. 43)
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Requirements for persons seeking a license
Proof of at least 30 hours of behind the wheel training from the bioptic instructor and
successful passing of a comprehensive skills exam. Daytime-only restrictions are eligible
for removal after one year under certain conditions: visual acuity of 20/40 can be
demonstrated with bioptic (no field expanders), passing of comprehensive night driving
skills test and possession of a clean driving record.
Visual Acuity
20/40 (in better eye) : Unrestricted
20/200 in one eye for bioptic drivers
20/60 with the bioptic telescope
Field of Vision
The visual field of view must be 110 degrees horizontally (binocular). The visual field of view
must be at least 40 degrees temporal and 30 degrees nasally (monocular).
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
20/60 (using bioptic) : Restricted license
*Certified driver training program and road test required. Minimum behind-the-wheel
training with bioptic telescope is 30 hours for a new driver and 15 hours for a previously
licensed driver. Daytime-only driving restrictions for at least 36 months. After 36
months, daytime-only restrictions are eligible for removal depending upon review of
driving record, completion of night driving training program and comprehensive driving
examination
Field of Vision
The visual field of view must be at 120 degrees horizontally and 80 degrees vertically in the
same eye.
Bioptic Driving Allowance
No
Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) : Unrestricted license.
20/50 (in the better eye) : Restricted daytime-only license
20/70 (in the better eye) : Restricted daytime-only license with a speed restriction of 35 mph.
Field of Vision
The visual field of view must be 140 degrees for an unrestricted license. Visual field of 115 to
140 degrees result in a restricted license.
Sources
https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverslicense/dlmanual/dlmanual.pdf
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
20/40 : Unrestricted license
20/200 and at least 20/40 (through the bioptic telescope) : Restricted license.
*Bioptic may not exceed 4x power.
Field of Vision
The visual field must be 120 degrees horizontal.
Sources
https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/OlderDriversBook/pages/Indiana.html
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) : Unrestricted license.
If using bioptic telescope to pass the vision test, minimum acuity of 20/100 (in better eye without bioptic) and
20/40 acuity (with bioptic) must be met for restricted daylight-only license.
*The power of the lenses must not exceed 3.0X wide angle or 2.2X standard.
* You must be fitted for a prescription spectacle mounted telescopic lens arrangement and have had the arrangement in your possession for at least 60 days prior to driver’s license application date.
*Special exceptions are made for night driving if certain requirements are met including
a recommendation by the vision specialist, 1 year of bioptic driving, clean record, and
successful road exam.
Field of Vision
Visual field must be 140 degrees (both eyes).
If only one eye, visual field must be 70 degrees temporally
and 35 degrees nasally.
Sources
https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/drivers_license/medical_vision.html
https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_x20.pdf
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Not allowed to meet visual field requirements; however, permitted for use while driving
Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) : Unrestricted license.
Field of Vision
Field of vision must be 140 degrees (both eyes) and 70 degrees (in one eye)
Requirements for persons seeking a license
If minimum standard acuity cannot be met, exceptions can be made with authorization
and documentation from a vision specialist
Sources
https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/olderdriversbook/pages/hawaii.html
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
Minimum visual acuity must be 20/60 for an unrestricted license. Visual acuity of 20/60
to 20/200 may be considered for a restricted license if 20/60 acuity can be reached
utilizing the bioptic telescope.
Field of Vision
Field of vision must be 140 degrees (with both eyes).
In the event that only one eye has usable vision, the horizontal field of vision must be at least 70 degrees temporally and 50 degrees nasally.
Requirements for persons seeking a license
User must have documentation from a vision specialist, certified training using bioptic
telescope and pass the written and road tests.
Sources
https://dds.georgia.gov/testing-and-training/test-and-exams-information#vision
Bioptic Driving Allowance
No
Visual Acuity
20/70 : Unrestricted license.
20/40 (if one eye is worse than 20/200) : Unrestricted license
Field of Vision
The minimum field of vision is 130 degrees.
Sources
https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/general-information/medical-visual-problems/
https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/72010.pdf
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) : Unrestricted license.
20/70 (in the better eye) : Restricted daytime-only license
* Bioptic telescope lenses are ok with Doctor recommendation
Field of Vision
Field of vision must be at least 140 degrees to qualify for a unrestricted license.
Sources
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) : Unrestricted license
20/50 (in better eye) : Restricted to Daytime Only
Visual acuity exceeding 20/50 : No license
Field of Vision
There is no listed visual field requirement
Requirements for persons seeking a license
A vision specialist must administer a vision test and submit a recommendation for bioptic
driving. Rehabilitation class, written and road tests must be passed.
Bioptic Driving Allowance
No
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 (in the better eye) : Unrestricted
20/50 – 20/70 : Restricted Daytime Only
*A person with 20/200 or better in the better eye with a visual field of at least 100 degrees
(both eyes) may be issued a restricted license under special circumstances.
Field of Vision
The visual field must be 140 degrees (both eyes) and 100 degrees (one eye). The minimum
visual field of 100 degrees (binocular) for restricted daytime-only license.
*A person with 20/200 or better in the better eye with a visual field of at least 100 degrees
(both eyes) may be issued a restricted license under special circumstances.
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
20/40 : Unrestricted license
20/50 – 20/200 : Restricted license – Needs report from a specialist and request for the licensee is determined by discretion.
Visual acuity exceeding 20/200: No license
Source
https://www.aoa.org/Documents/CO/DMV.pdf
(see pdf for FOV)
Needs editing
Bioptic Driving Allowance?
Bioptic driving is allowed but restricted to only day driving.
Requirements for persons seeking a license
Bioptic training, certification, and road test are required. The power of bioptic must not exceed 4x.
Visual Acuity
You can use the bioptic for the vision test, but visual acuity must be 20/60 or better either mono or binocular. Minimum of 20/200 in each eye using just the carrier lenses.
Field of Vision
The visual field of at least 110 degrees horizontally and 80 degrees vertically.
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Minimum Visual Acuity
20/40 : Unrestricted license
20/50 – 20/100 : Restricted license – Needs report from a specialist and request for the licensee is determined by discretion.
Visual acuity exceeding 20/100: No license
A person with vision in only one eye will be licensed if the vision in the good eye meets the standards of the department; the department, will, in its discretion, impose restrictions requiring outside rearview mirrors, one mounted on each side of the vehicle, on persons with vision in only one eye.
Field of Vision
A person whose field of vision is less than 60 percent will not be licensed unless he or she is able to meet the requirements for visual acuity without the aid of the lenses; if field of vision is between 60 percent and 90 percent, outside rearview mirrors will, in the Department’s discretion, be required.
Sources
https://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/dlmanual/dlman.pdf (pg 5)
http://www.vision-and-eye-health.com/support-files/us_driving_requirements.pdf (pg.8)
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Bioptic is not permitted to be used to meet vision standards.
Visual Acuity
20/40 (with both eyes together, and no worse than 20/70 in the poorer eye) : Unrestricted
20/50 – 20/200 : Restricted license – Needs report from a specialist and request for the licensee is determined by discretion.
Visual acuity exceeding 20/200: No license
Field of View
Not specified
Source
http://bit.ly/CaliforniaVisionStandards
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
20/40 (in at least one eye) : Unrestricted license
20/50 – 20/60 (with both eyes) : Restricted (daytime only) license
A person with monocular vision exceeding 20/50 : No license
A person with binocular vision exceeding 20/70 : No license
Requirements for persons seeking a license
The field of vision must be 70 degrees, plus 35 degrees on the opposite side of the nose, in at least one eye.
Limitations on Telescope Power
The power of the bioptic must not exceed 4x.
Sources
https://apps.azdot.gov/files/mvd/mvd-forms-lib/32-4001.pdf
Bioptic Driving Allowance
Yes
Visual Acuity
20/40 : Unrestricted license
20/70 : Restricted license
Visual acuity exceeding 20/70: No license
Field of Vision
A person with two functional eyes must have a field vision of 140 degrees.
A person with one functional eye must have a field vision of 105 degrees.
Sources
https://static.ark.org/eeuploads/asp/dl_study_guide_02292016.pdf (pg 5)