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Q&A
What are the vision requirements to get a DOT medical card?
What if I have monocular vision?
Can I wear contact lenses to do the vision test?
What if I have had laser eye surgery?
I need to obtain a vision waiver. Where can I get the forms?
What are the vision requirements to get a DOT medical card?
You must have a distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 with or without corrective lenses:
- see at least 20/40 with both eyes together
- see at least 20/40 with the right eye
- see at least 20/40 with the left eye.
Monovision is a disqualification. Use of a contact lens in one eye for distant visual acuity and another lens in the other eye for near vision is not acceptable, nor are telescopic lenses acceptable for driving a commercial motor vehicle.
Exemption: A driver with monocular vision may be able to get a Federal Vision Exemption Certificate, if medically fit for duty in all other categories of the physical exam.
What if I have monocular vision?
If you pass all other aspects of the DOT physical, and you meet all vision requirements in the functioning eye, then you may be considered for a Federal Vision Exemption.
Can I wear contact lenses to do the vision test?
You are permitted to wear contact lenses provided you’re used to wearing them and have a good tolerance for wearing contacts. Be aware that monovision is a disqualification, so use of a contact lens in one eye for distant visual acuity and another lens in the other eye for near vision is not acceptable.
What if I have had laser eye surgery?
Provided you meet the vision requirements, you should have no problem.
I am legally blind in one eye from an injury? With documentation from my eye specialist can I pass the DOT physical?
This type of injury will require documentation.
If you are going to drive only within your state borders, it will be easier. Just check with your DMV to see what the states rules and regulations are.
To pursue an interstate medical card will require an exemption that you can only get from FMCSA. Check out the requirements to determine if this is something you want to pursue. It is possible, but a bit tough to do. Lots of hoops, but do-able.
I need to obtain a vision waiver. Where can I get the forms?
FMCSA has a Vision Exemption Program which has specific requirements for each application. You will get a decision within 180 days of completing your application. To find out more and get the forms go to this FMCSA official webpage.
I have 20/20 vision corrected, right eye. 20/200 uncorrectable in my left eye, 70 degree plus horizontal left and right. Does this fail the DOT physical?
DOT requires you have a minimum of 20/40 vision in each eye, and in both eyes together, either non-corrective or with corrective lenses. Your peripheral vision is within normal limits.
All that being said, you could be driving skills tested with a FMCSA exemption. Check with the FMCSA for the requirements for that particular exemption.
I’ve been a CDL driver for 16 years. Last week, for my DOT physical the doctor made me do the color test from a book with numbers and dots. I could get only half of them right. I have always been able to see the colors red, green and amber and pass my DOT physical. Now the book test has made me fail the color portion of the DOT physical. What’s going on with this?
It looks like the doctor is trying to determine if you may be color blind. But the primary reason for the DOT physical color test is to determine your ability to distinguish red, amber/yellow and green – not a color blindness examination. Not really sure as to why they would do this. Especially since you have been driving for so long. You are correct to question this.
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I hope this isn’t a duplicate but I haven’t seen it yet. My son has poor vision in his left eye, just missing the 20/40 mark. He failed his DOT physical the first time for that reason but then took it again and passed (got lucky). His eye doctor can’t understand why he failed as he always tests better in the doctors office than 20/40. The question is, is it possible for his eye doctor to give him the eye exam portion of the DOT physical and would that be acceptable to the DOT medical examiner?
@Mike
Yes, absolutely. It would be the best way for you to go.
Just so I’m clear, does the DOT medical examiner HAVE to accept the vision exam from my son’s eye doctor? Or is it optional and up to the discretion of the DOT medical examiner?
@Mike
The eye doctor’s examination and findings are considered supplemental to the CME’s examination, so it should be useful for the CME, but it does not have to be accepted. If both parties are using a standard Snelling chart, then I am not sure why he would pass in the eye doctors office and not in the CME examination.
I had cataract surgery 7 years ago in my left eye while I was living in Tennessee. I have been living in Arizona for the past 5 years. My vision and peripherals in both eyes meet the required standards . I hope that I understand the way to properly handle the DOT Medical Exam procedure correctly as follows: In the Health History section I need to list the cataract surgery, have my current eye doctor fill out the Medical release form and then go to get the DOT exam with the release form in hand. Have I missed anything?
@Dwight
Heck while your at your eye doctors place, have him do a quick visual acuity test and write down the results. Then the CME won’t have any questions and the visual portion of the examination is done. But even without that you have all the procedures in the right place.
I had lasik and have mono vision. But I do have glasses that corrects both eyes back to 20/20. Will I be able to pass the vision requirement with my glasses or would I still need a waiver for monovision?
@Charles
Just the glasses to correct your vision to 20/20 will do just fine.
I’ve been driving since 01 and I started with Dart Transit in 2010 but when it came time to renew my medical card I failed the vision test for right eye and went to see a eye specialist. Told me I have a mild case of astigmatism but it’s been stable for and I always get a vision of 20/30 but I lost my job even though after seeing what the doctor wrote their M.E. gave me a medical card good for 2yrs. Can i just have a Optalmologist the vision part.
@Trey
Yes, you can.
As far as the DOT 20/40 vision regulation requirements are concerned, I was born with a crossed eye which is a birth defect. I had eye surgery at age 3 and have worn corrective lenses ever since. My eyes with glasses worn will not meet the 20\40 regulation requirements but I have been driving since the age 15 will this prevent me from obtaining a CDL licence and if not what will I need to do to be able to obtain one?
@Roland
You could check with the FMCSA and see what they have to say. According to the guidelines and regulations driver must be at least 20/40 with both eyes and each eye individually. So any CME is going to abide those regulations.
If FMCSA wants to issue you a vision waiver, it will be something between you, your eye doctor and the FMCSA.
CDL drivers go by the FMCSA rules and regulations. States can go by their own rules and regulations. So your driving since age 15 is not the question. The questions is would you be qualified to drive with a CDL. FMCSA rules apply, not just the state rules.
I am currently mostly blind in left eye due to incident when I was younger. I do not have any official driving experience from previous employers however my current employer would like me to get a medical card. I have peripheral but it’s limited. I live in pa and I wouldn’t be crossing state lines. Please can someone give me a straight answer whether or not I can get a medical card.
@Matthew
You will need to get a vision waiver from your state to be able to pass the medical card examination for the vision portion. So check with your state drivers license department and get the vision waiver and then go for the medical card examination.
So I have 20/20 vision with both eyes together but can see 40 line in my left eye can also see 70 degrees around me with both eyes and can pass every other aspect of the DOT physical can I just go to my local DMV to get a vision waiver my license does have a restriction B on it.
@Bobby
Check with your drivers license department and see if they are going to issue a vision waiver. You must be able to see 20/40 or better with both eyes and each eye individually. Peripheral needs to be 70 degrees or better in each eye.
On the eye chart numbers 1 to 10. What is the number u have to be able to read in order to pass that part of the visual exam? I always read #8 is that just passing or good? I ask because the last exam the lady made me take off my glasses to see what line I could read without them.
@Heather
Line 8 is 20/20 and all you need is 20/40 or better corrected or uncorrected. Some states like to see what your vision is without correction, but it is only information gathering not used in the examination findings.
So I have a lazy eye which is my right eye I have 20/20 vision with both eyes together 60 with my left eye by itself but not so well with my right eye by itself (lazy eye) would this keep me from getting my CDL my eyes are perfect together.
@Bobby
20/40 or better, both eyes together and each eye individually is the FMCSA requirements. That can be with or without correction, but the 20/40 is the minimum acceptable level. If that is not possible, then you would need a vision waiver from the FMCSA to drive with a CDL license.
With both eyes together its 20/40 but cover up the left and leave the right theres nothing do to a lazy eye but I passed every other aspect of the exam but got sent home because my right eye was lazy. Is this waiver something a Dot doctor can get you.
@Bobby
Usually not. It will come from your state drivers license department or the FMCSA.
I’ve heard that the rules for eye sight got changed this year . Is there any truth to this ?
I have hyperopia,astigmatism,and presbyopia vision can I still pass my eye exam?
@Gilbert
If your vision corrects to 20/40 or better and you can do that with both eyes and each eye individually, then you can pass the eye examination. The only questions that the CME will have are what are the progressive conditions that would hold you from getting your medical card.
@Wilbur
Could you be a bit more specific?
20/40 or better in both eyes and each eye individually. That’s without correction or with correction. 20/40 is still the test parameters.
My eye doctor said my vision is 20/20 with my glasses 40 in my left eye but if my left eye is covered and my right eye is by itself theres nothing it used to be crossed cr england kicked me out for this will this stop me from passing the DOT eye exam?
@Bobby
Not sure about the question but here is an answer – You must be able to see 20/40 or better with both eyes and with each eye individually. That can be with or without corrective lenses. If one eye is unable to pass the 20/40, corrected or uncorrected, then you would need a vision waiver from the FMCSA.