UK Optometrists Want Mandatory Eye Tests for Drivers

Testing should be required every 10 years, AOP says.

Some optometrists in the United Kingdom believe drivers should have to take regular eye exams in order to stay on the road, the BBC reports.

The Association of Optometrists says such tests should be mandatory once a decade.

At present, UK drivers “must actively make a declaration every three years that they are fit to drive,” BBC reports. That includes affirming that their eyesight is up to the task. 

But in countries such as Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Spain and Turkey, drivers must submit to a visual assessment every 10 years, according to the association.

About 2,900 road casualties are caused by poor vision every year, according to the association.

The Association of Optometrists notes: “Sight often deteriorates slowly so you may not even notice a change to your vision.”

Read more at the BBC