Can I Get a Driver's License If I'm Nearsighted?
4 Answers
You can get a driver's license if you are nearsighted, as long as your vision meets the national standards. According to national regulations: Individuals with monocular vision impairment can apply for a motor vehicle driver's license for small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, three-wheeled cars, or small automatic transmission passenger cars specially designed for the disabled, provided that the better eye has a naked or corrected visual acuity of 5.0 or above on the logarithmic visual acuity chart and a horizontal visual field of 150 degrees. Applicants for a motor vehicle driver's license must meet the following requirements: 1. Height: Applicants for large buses, tractors, city buses, large trucks, or trolleybuses must be at least 155 cm tall. Applicants for medium-sized buses must be at least 150 cm tall. 2. Vision: Applicants for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, trolleybuses, or trams must have a naked or corrected visual acuity of 5.0 or above in both eyes on the logarithmic visual acuity chart. Applicants for other vehicle types must have a naked or corrected visual acuity of 4.9 or above in both eyes. Individuals with monocular vision impairment can apply for a motor vehicle driver's license for small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, three-wheeled cars, or small automatic transmission passenger cars specially designed for the disabled, provided that the better eye has a naked or corrected visual acuity of 5.0 or above and a horizontal visual field of 150 degrees. 3. Color Vision: No red-green color blindness. 4. Hearing: Able to distinguish the direction of a sound source with each ear at a distance of 50 cm from a tuning fork. Individuals with hearing impairment who can meet the above conditions with hearing aids can apply for a motor vehicle driver's license for small cars or small automatic transmission cars. 5. Upper Limbs: Both thumbs must be intact, and each hand must have at least three other fingers intact, with normal limb and finger movement. However, individuals with missing fingertip sections or three intact fingers on the left hand and complete palms on both hands can apply for a motor vehicle driver's license for small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, or three-wheeled cars. 6. Lower Limbs: Both lower limbs must be intact and have normal movement function, with a length difference of no more than 5 cm. However, individuals with a missing or non-functional left lower limb can apply for a motor vehicle driver's license for small automatic transmission cars. 7. Trunk and Neck: No movement dysfunction. 8. Individuals with missing or non-functional right lower limbs or both lower limbs who can sit independently and meet the upper limb requirements in item 5 can apply for a motor vehicle driver's license for small automatic transmission passenger cars specially designed for the disabled. Individuals with one missing hand, a intact thumb on the other hand, two other intact fingers, normal upper limb and finger movement, and meeting the lower limb requirements in item 6 can also apply for a motor vehicle driver's license for small automatic transmission passenger cars specially designed for the disabled.
Oh, I just got my driver's license recently, and myopia is totally not a problem! I also had myopia back then, but the degree wasn't high. I specifically checked my vision before the physical exam. The doctor required corrected visual acuity to be above 0.8 to take the test. I wore glasses during the exam and passed smoothly all the way through. Vision is really crucial when driving—if it's blurry and you can't see road signs clearly, accidents can happen easily. So before enrolling in a driving school, I suggest you get an eye exam and a suitable pair of glasses. Don’t wait until the last minute to find out you’re not qualified. The test center usually checks uncorrected or corrected vision. If you don’t meet the standard, they might suggest laser surgery, but wearing glasses for correction is simpler. Remember, safety comes first—only with qualified vision can you ensure safety for yourself and other road users. My friend had to retake the test several times because they didn’t wear glasses in time, wasting money and time. Usually, pay more attention to protecting your eyes, reduce screen time, and prevent myopia from worsening and affecting driving.
Of course, you can get a driver's license even if you are nearsighted. The key is whether your corrected vision meets the standards. Traffic regulations require that the vision test for a small car driver's license must have a corrected vision of at least 0.8. If your uncorrected vision is poor, wearing glasses or contact lenses can help you meet the requirement. During the physical examination, both eyes will be checked, and if you fail, you can only pause the test to address your vision issues. I remember many of my car enthusiast friends who are moderately nearsighted got their licenses smoothly after getting the right glasses. Vision is crucial for driving, as it affects braking distance and road sign recognition, so don't underestimate it. It's advisable to get a vision assessment at an optician before the test to ensure your glasses prescription is accurate; otherwise, long-distance driving may cause fatigue and impair judgment. If your nearsightedness is severe, consult a doctor to see if surgical correction is necessary, but regular treatment is usually sufficient. In short, follow the rules and prioritize safety above all else.
I've been nearsighted for several years and didn't worry at all when getting my driver's license. As long as your vision passes the physical exam—they test for corrected vision reaching 0.8, it's fine. I wore glasses and easily passed the test. Poor vision while driving is dangerous, like not being able to see pedestrian signals clearly. Don't delay, address it early and you can happily hit the road.
