Bioptic Driving with Macular Degeneration in California | Family Eyecare Center of Optometry

If you have reduced vision from macular degeneration and cannot pass the California DMV vision screening exam, Dr. Ashcraft can help. With the use of special bioptic telescopic glasses and a fully completed DMV form DL62, “Report of Vision Examination”, Dr. Ashcraft has helped many people in California safely drive again.
If you have central vision loss from macular degeneration, you need more magnification to see. You have most likely noticed that over-the-counter glasses or standard glasses from your eye doctor are just not strong enough.
For a person suffering from low vision conditions like macular degeneration, standard glasses do not provide the magnification necessary to see to drive safely or to pass the California DMV screening vision test. Special glasses with mini telescopes mounted at the top of the frame, known as bioptic telescope glasses often provide the magnification needed to see better and pass the DMV vision test.
For example, if your best corrected vision is 20/80 you will fail the DMV screening test. To pass the California DMV screening test, you need to see at least 20/40 in the better eye and at least 20/70 in the poorer eye. With a bioptic telescope providing a 2x magnification, you would be able to see 20/40 with each 20/80 eye and pass the vision test requirement.
You do not need the bioptic telescope lenses to see cars, houses, trees or other big objects. The bioptics are used for reading signs and traffic signals. Just like using your rear view mirror, when you need to read a sign or signal further away, you just tip you head slightly, look though the telescope, and go back to your normal position.
If you need to get closer to read signs and signals, with a 2x telescope, you will be able to see them twice as far away. For example if you needed to get 50 feet away to read a sign, with a 2x bioptic telescope, you would be able to read the sign 100 feet away.
Bioptic telescope glasses come in a variety of sizes and magnifications. California was one of the first states in the country to allow the use of bioptic telescope glasses for safer driving in California. They have been allowed for driving, as long as certain conditions are met, for over 50 years.
If you cannot pass the standard California DMV vision screening test, the DMV will require your eye doctor to fill out a California DMV “Report of Vision Examination”, Form DL-62. The DMV wants to know the details of your vision condition. What is causing the vision loss? What is your visual acuity? Is your vision loss stable? How is your side vision? Have you had any eye related surgeries? They want to make sure you are safely driving. Dr. Ashcraft has filled out many of the Form DL-62.
For more information on the California Driving Vision Test and the Form DL-62, visit:
“California DMV Vision Requirements: Simplified” at
www.familyeyecareoptometrist....
For more information on driving with bioptic telescopes in California, visit:
“Bioptics Telescope Glasses For Driving in Southern California” at
www.familyeyecareoptometrist....
For general information on low vision conditions, aids, devices and glasses, visit:
“Low Vision Los Angeles” at
www.familyeyecareoptometrist....
To learn more about macular degeneration visit:
“Low Vision Care for Macular Degeneration in California” at
www.familyeyecareoptometrist....
What is AMD?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a type of eye disease that can make your central vision blurry. You may see wavy lines or have blind spots in your central vision. This means you might have a hard time driving, seeing the television or faces, using the computer or phone or reading.
Macular degeneration happens when there is damage to the center part of the retina which is called the macula. The retina is the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye. It is often compared to the film in a camera. The macula is the central area of the retina which contains the highest concentration of cones and controls clear straight-ahead visual acuity.
MD is a common condition - it’s a leading cause of vision loss for older adults. AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness, but losing your central vision can make it harder to see faces, read, drive, or do close-up work like working around the house or cooking meals.
There are 2 types of macular degeneration, dry and wet. Macular degeneration is a progressive disease and can get worse over time.
Please call Dr. Ashcraft at 310-670-4411 to schedule a complementary telephone consultation to discuss you individual situation.
Dr. Harold T. Ashcraft
Family Eyecare Center of Optometry
Low Vision Los Angeles
8735 La Tijera Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045