Over 70's driving lecence renewal

Yes, the paper one is easier, and you don't have to send proof of eyesight. You may have to change your photo next time. I had to, last time, but not this time, but then I'm on my 5th or 6th one.

The Gov.uk page on this starts with:

"The Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking views on the proposals for introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers."

"Seeking views on the proposals" tells us that it is a matter for the future. Who knows, perhaps the current arrangement will last longer than some of us.

Re the photo: If they already have a current photo of you on file (e.g. from a current passport) then they will just use that.

Eye tests are already compulsory for some of us. Being a diabetic I have to have an eye test every renewal. The first part of the test is the standard chart test followed by a field of vision test.

I get that every 6-8 weeks anyway.

In 2022 you had to confirm that you did not suffer from a huge list of conditions (>100). Now they have cut this down to about 6 after complaints by various expert groups.

If you renew online and you still have ?C1 (allowing you to drive a truck up to 7.5 tonnes ?) then you will lose this by applying online. If you need to keep this category then you have to fill in the paper application.

There is no special eye test, but you have to 'confirm' that you can read a number plate at ?20 metres.

I suspect many people who know that they could have eye sight issues will tell porkies, especially if they are the only driver in the house and a car is essential.

If you have Glaucoma in just one eye you don't have to tell the DVLA but if you have it in both eyes then it is a mandatory reporting requirement (£5000 fine). Also Glaucoma on one eye and another condition in the other eye. This is where it gets tricky now that the 100+ list of conditions has been trimmed. At the end of the day, just get a free OAP eye test at your optician, and pay the extra for a scan and an NHS-type Visual field check. The latter will indicate any serious eye problems which you must report to the DVLA.

Once you are 'on the DVLA medical list' they will require you to fill in the V1 medical form. Do it online, the paper variety will take weeks or months to get through their systems.

One of my 2nd cousins, born 1971, developed type 1 diabetes when she was 11 and they have never allowed her to have a driving licence. She has always had a medical free bus pass.

Once you are on the DVLA medical list for any eye issues then every three years (or less) they will make you trot along to Specsavers to carry out a Visual Field Test plus reading the charts.

However, unlike the NHS VFT, the flashing lights are full intensity and both eyes are tested at the same time with the chin rest centrally positioned. Many Specsavers shops don't seem to be aware of the chin- rest positioning requirement.

A bit OTT surely ?

Just back from my latest every 6-8 week injection unto the eyeball, Not recommended as light entertainment. They monitor eye quality and photo and scan the retina every time.

It does seem to be keeping the macular degeneration in check though.

They don't routinely do field of vision though, I would know when that is off anyway.

I think I have another 5 years of driving before I simply don't want to any more.

Cataract removal scheduled for the summer. Old age is a bundle of fun, isn't it?

I received, and returned my form a good 3 months, before my old licence expired. I don't remember getting it this early before.

I had one cataract removed 3 weeks ago. 1:30pm appointment, home by taxi at 3 pm. Lots of eyedrops prior to the operation, 10 minutes on the operating table.

Other sources suggest it takes an hour, NHS for you! Did it improve vision?

My first cataract operation was NHS, the second was private (£3600 for everything). Private, I had the consultation on a Tuesday and operated on the next Monday. With the NHS I had to wait around 2 months to see the consultant and another month for the operation. I believe the NHS waiting time locally is now around 6 months from referral.

Both were done in a private hospital, same surgeon both times. The NHS contracts the operation out in my area.

In both cases I was the first patient on the table. With the NHS operation there were 6 other people having the operation that morning so if I was last on the list it probably would have been another 1.5 hours waiting. With the private operation there were 6 other people waiting for the same NHS surgery, by the same consultant.

For information I had around 5 lots of eyedrops prior going in for surgery over a period of around 30 minutes.

My first cataract operation clear vision after around 24 hours, second operation clear vision after 48 hours. Both cases very slight blurred vision in the eye as soon as the initial eye drops wear off.

I had to help my Mum do her Over 70 renewal recently, she had got in a flap about doing it online - she completely missed the digital revolution and is useless online.

I thought the online process was actually astonishingly light and simple, with barely any genuinely probing questions. Made me wonder what the point of it actually is, as it's all self-declared with no proof required. Anyway, was a <5 minute job and Mum was happy again.

Half an hour for each of mine, a month apart. I remembered that the world is in Colour.

Had mine done years ago on NHS recommended to doctor, by Specsavers. Yes I had all that waiting around for the first one. For the second one I rang up and they asked me if I could come in that same afternoon. Both on local hospital. My wife was recommended by SS the same way, but I think it went directly to a clinic owned or part-owned by them. Done in weeks and the second one a short while after. Drops for a few days after, but no eyepad with them. Lots of clinics doing this on Tyneside - all free.

Old age is much more fun these days, when there is a straightforward way to deal with cataracts. Anyone born a generation or so earlier wouldn't have had that option.

Mine is probably due in a couple of years. A bit scary when you only have one eye to start with.

For 7 days I had to wear a supplied hard eye pad (clear plastic with a matrix of small holes) only to sleep - to prevent inadvertent rubbing of the eye.

The document I got for aftercare stressed that the aftercare of the eye was just as important as the procedure.

I was given two bottles of Tobradex to use for 24 days.

"TobraDex (tobramycin/dexamethasone) is a combination antibiotic and corticosteroid eye drop used to treat steroid-responsive inflammatory ocular conditions where a bacterial infection or risk of infection exists. It is commonly used after eye surgery to prevent infection and reduce inflammation."

This page gives some advice on aftercare which broadly is the same advice I received.

or

Yes. I know what you mean. Everything is vaguely fuzzy and sort of sepia tinted

I camn still drive at night though.