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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 have my CDL license. My renewal is coming up in March. I recently had eye surgery due to detached retina. I am not going to meet the Vision Requirements before my renewal date. Will I have to start all over when my eyes clear up with CDL process or what can I do???
@Virgil
You need to check with your local drivers license department and let them know your situation. You won’t need to redo your CDL testing, but they need to know how to help you for now.
Hello im from iowa, i took the dot physical, i didn’t pass the vision test on my right eye. i had surgery to reattach my retna on my right eye now im trying to get the wavier so i can drive dump truck class b cdl intrastate now is it worth pursuing this or should i just give up. i see that it can take up to 180 days for a response from FMCSA. im able to see out of that eye like colors, i can tell what the objects are its just blurry.my peripheral vision is good. my doctor says my vision in thay eye pretty much is what it is.
@Adrian
Check with your local drivers license department. You should fall under the states variances as an intra-state only driver and as such should only have to meet the states requirements, not the FMCSAs. The states can issue any waiver that they see fit, as long as they feel that you can do your job safely.
If you were waiting for your glasses to come in are they a form that can be filled out so you can renew your CDL’s so you can’t keep on working while you are waiting for your eyeglasses to come in. I live in South Carolina
@Mike
No. The CME can’t complete the exam until all parts are completed, including the vision test.
I have a cdl-a with a soon to expire medical card. I have a vision deficiency in one eye from a birth defect. Corrected vision is 20/100 left, 20/40 right. The requirement states the vision must be stable. Mine is not. If not granted a waiver, am I “disabled”? Do you have any idea where I can get help with this?
@Chris
You will not qualify as a class A driver running interstate.
That being said, you could qualify as an intra-state driver and fall under the states variances. Best bet is to check with your local drivers license department and get the information from them. Otherwise it is a waiver from the FMCSA and as far as we know, these waivers take a bunch of time. Good Luck
I have a CDL, class C, passenger endorsement, driving a limo in NJ. I August, struck in rear by vehicle and developed 5 floaters in my left eye, within 2 months of accident. Will the floater prevent me from renewing my CDL license?
@Tony
Not if they do not interfere with your ability to operate a CMV. If the condition poses a safety issue, then it could be a restriction. Also you are a class C driver, so let the examiner know the type of driving you do. It will make a difference to the examiner.
Okay Dr I have a question my boyfriend had an eye injury when he was eight years old it ripped the cornea but it was repaired he is never had a problem with a deal T physical until today is there something that states in the rule book that if he has 20/20 Vision in that eye that they can withhold his CDL
@Monica
Nope. So unless there was some other condition that caused the CME to restrict the certificate, then it’s unknown as to why he would not provide a DOT certificate.
Does the doctors office check my vision for dot card, or the va dmv check them ?
@Barry
The Certified Medical Examiner should be performing your eyes examination for your medical card.
DMV may do a vision test for your license, but these are totally separate.
Hello Doctor,
I have 20/20 in my left eye and 20/50 in my right, 20/20 both with glasses. I have a birth defect in my right eye, the optic nerve is narrower than normal. I still see blurry with corrective lenses in the right eye and and everything thing is a little darker in that right eye as well.
I do not have a CDL, I want to get a permit for a CDL with P and S endorsements to drive a school bus for a school district municipality in New Jersey.
I have applied twice to the DOT for a vision waiver. I was told that in my case, it does nor apply and I cannot get the waiver.
The DMV in New Jersey says the only way they will issue a permit for a CDL is that I need the DOT vision waiver.
Would you say that I’m not ever going to move forward because of my condition? And I should just drop the whole matter?
Thanks for your time
@Nick
You will fall under your states variances and not the DOT/ FMCSA.
As a class A over the road driver, you would not pass the medical certification examination.
That being said, since you are working on driving a school bus you should be held to the states rules and regulations, not FMCSA.
So first get a medical certificate from your local CME and then take that information to the state drivers license department. Based on the findings of the examiner, the state should then issue you any waivers or state variance restriction limitations that would exist for the level of driving that you want to do.
Thank you doctor. I did have the physical exam by a DOT physician, I passed the physical but failed the vision portion, on the medical certificate issued, it stated that I need a federal vision waiver which is only available through the DOT. I took all of my paperwork to the New Jersey DMV, they told me that the state does not have a vision waiver program and I need a federal DOT vision waiver which I cannot get. So you see I’m in a holding pattern that has no positive advances in my situation. What one state government entity requires the federal other will not provide in my circumstances. Thanks again for your time.
I got shot with a bottle rocket in my right eye well I get to drive is there a way around it
@Rob
Everything depends on the extent of the damage done to the eye and your eyesight in that eye. If full vision has been lost, you will need to get a vision waiver from your state, if you are going to be driving intra-state only. Or a vision waiver from the FMCSA if you want to try interstate driving. Good Luck