Staff report

Effective July 1, drivers age 80 and older are required to appear in person at DMV and pass a vision screening before they renew their driver’s licenses. Customers have two vision screening options: they may take their test at DMV or present a screening report completed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, conducted within 90 days before renewal.

The new requirement is the result of House Bill 257 and Senate Bill 402, passed by the 2004 General Assembly. Similar laws have been enacted around the nation, most recently in Florida earlier this year.

&uot;It’s imperative for all drivers to have good eye sight so that the highways are safe for everyone,&uot; said DMV Commissioner D.B. Smit.

With or without corrective lenses on, a person’s vision must be 20/40. If a person has vision problems in one eye, an individual must see 20/40 with the other eye, with or without corrective lenses.

Drivers screened at DMV will be asked to look into a machine to read lines of letters or numbers. This test determines whether a person’s eye sight and peripheral vision meets Virginia’s standards to safely operate a motor vehicle. Persons whose vision does not meet the required standards have the option of visiting an eye care professional.