Vision is the sense driving depends on most. It is also the one that changes slowly enough that people do not notice it changing.
Most drivers only think about their eyes when a licence renewal asks about them, or when an optometrist says something that makes them nervous. This article explains what the rules actually require in Queensland, what happens if you no longer meet them, and where an occupational therapy driving assessment fits in.
What eyesight do you need to drive?
Two things get measured, and they are different from each other.
How clearly you see. This is visual acuity, the letters-on-a-chart test. For a private car licence you generally need to read to at least the 6/12 line with both eyes open. Glasses or contact lenses count, so if you meet the standard while wearing them, you meet the standard.
How wide you see. This is your visual field, meaning how much you can take in to the sides without moving your eyes. For an unconditional licence the requirement is a horizontal field of at least 110 degrees, with no significant blind patches in the important central area.
The second one is the one people have never heard of, and it is the one that more often causes a problem. You can have perfect 6/6 vision straight ahead and still fail the field requirement, because the loss is out to the side where you do not notice it.
The full detail sits in the Austroads vision and eye disorders standards, which Queensland applies.
Who tests this?
Your optometrist or ophthalmologist. Not us.
Occupational therapists do not test or prescribe for eyesight. If your vision is the issue, an optometrist is the correct first stop, and they can perform the formal field testing if it is needed. Your GP will usually refer you if there is any doubt.
We say this plainly because people sometimes book a driving assessment when what they actually needed was an eye test, which is a slower and more expensive way to get the same answer.
Do I have to tell Transport and Main Roads?
If the only thing that has changed is that you now need glasses to drive, you should update TMR so the correct condition goes on your licence, but you do not need a medical certificate for that alone.
If you have an eye condition that is likely to affect your driving, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or vision loss after a stroke, that is a long-term medical condition and you have a legal duty to report it. The Queensland Government's reporting page sets out how, and we have walked through the process in reporting a medical condition to Queensland Transport.
If you are 75 or over, your annual medical certificate covers vision as part of the assessment. That is explained in driving over 75 in Queensland.
The common eye conditions, and what usually happens
Cataracts. Very common, and usually a temporary problem rather than a permanent one. Vision becomes cloudy and glare at night gets worse, then surgery restores it. Many people notice their night driving improve dramatically afterwards. If your cataracts are affecting your vision now, the sensible move is to reduce night driving until they are done.
Glaucoma. This one matters because it takes your peripheral vision first, and it does so gradually enough that the brain fills in the gap. People often do not realise how much field they have lost. Formal field testing is the only reliable way to know.
Macular degeneration. Affects central vision, which is what you use for reading signs and recognising detail. Peripheral vision often stays intact, which is why some people with macular degeneration feel like they are driving fine while their acuity has dropped below standard.
Diabetic eye disease. Vision can fluctuate, particularly when blood sugar is unstable. Worth reading alongside driving with diabetes.
Vision loss after a stroke. Different in kind from the others, and covered below.
One eye only. Losing sight in one eye is not automatically the end of driving. A conditional licence can be considered where the remaining eye meets the acuity requirement and the field is adequate, usually after a period of adjustment because depth perception takes time to recompensate.
Where the OT driving assessment comes in
Not for whether you can see. For whether you can drive with the vision you have.
The clearest example is vision loss after a stroke. A stroke can take out half of the visual field in both eyes, which is called hemianopia, or it can affect the brain's ability to pay attention to one side, which is called neglect. Those are different problems, and the second one is more dangerous, because a person with neglect does not know anything is missing.
Someone with a field loss might still meet the numbers on paper while missing a pedestrian stepping off a kerb. Equally, some people compensate well with head turns and scanning, and drive safely. You cannot tell which from a chart in a consulting room. You can tell from an hour on the road.
An assessment is worth doing where:
You have a visual field loss after a stroke or brain injury. See driving after a stroke in Queensland
Your optometrist or GP has raised a concern about how your vision affects your driving in practice
Vision has changed alongside something else, such as thinking speed or reaction time
TMR has asked for a practical assessment before making a decision on your licence
The on-road component looks at scanning, head checks, hazard detection, gap judgement at intersections, and lane position. What to expect on the day sets out how it runs.
What licence conditions look like
Where vision is the issue, the most common conditions are wearing corrective lenses, driving in daylight only, and limiting driving to a defined local area.
Daylight-only is a genuinely useful condition and is under-used. Night driving is far harder on the eyes, particularly with cataracts, glare sensitivity or reduced contrast, and many people were already avoiding it before anyone suggested it. Making it a condition often costs a person very little of what they actually do.
More on how these work in licence conditions after an OT driving assessment.
Things you can do yourself
Get your eyes checked every two years, and annually once you are past 65. Most Australians are eligible for a bulk-billed optometry appointment, so cost is rarely the barrier people expect.
Keep your windscreen clean inside as well as out, because the inside film is what scatters headlight glare. Replace worn wiper blades. Keep your prescription current rather than making do with last decade's glasses.
And if you have started avoiding night driving, or turning down invitations because of the drive home in the dark, treat that as information rather than as a personal failing. It usually means something has changed and is worth having looked at.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive if I wear glasses?
Yes, as long as you meet the standard while wearing them and you have an "S" condition on your licence indicating corrective lenses are required. Driving without them when that condition applies is a licence breach.
I have lost sight in one eye. Is that the end of driving?
Not necessarily. A conditional licence can be considered where your remaining eye is healthy and meets the requirements. There is usually a period of adjustment first, and your ophthalmologist advises on timing.
Do I need a field test?
Only if your optometrist or doctor thinks you do. It is commonly requested with glaucoma, after a stroke, and where there is any question about peripheral vision.
Will an OT driving assessment test my eyesight?
We do a functional vision screen as part of the off-road session, which flags whether something needs proper testing. It is not a substitute for an optometrist and we do not prescribe glasses.
My eyesight is fine but my optometrist has told TMR about my glaucoma. What happens now?
TMR will consider the clinical information and may issue a conditional licence, ask for further testing, or request a practical driving assessment. Reporting is not the same thing as losing your licence.
Does cataract surgery mean I can drive again straight away?
Your surgeon will tell you when, and it is usually a short wait rather than a long one. Have your vision rechecked afterwards, because your glasses prescription frequently changes.
Ready to book an OT driving assessment on the Gold Coast? Steer Driving is a mobile assessment service covering the Gold Coast and surrounding areas. Whether you already have a referral or you're just getting started, get in touch and we'll guide you through the next steps.
This article was written by Elise, an AHPRA-registered Occupational Therapist and driver assessor. Elise is the founder of Steer Driving, a mobile OT driving assessment practice.
References
Austroads. (2022). Assessing fitness to drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers (6th ed.). Austroads. https://austroads.gov.au/publications/assessing-fitness-to-drive/ap-g56/vision-and-eye-disorders/medical-standards-for-licensing-11
Queensland Government. (2024). Reporting your medical condition. Department of Transport and Main Roads. https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/healthy-to-drive/report-medical-condition
