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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 had cataract surgery and my old lenses replaced with new lenses which gives me 20/20 vision. I easily pass the standard wall eye-chart, but I fail when I have my eyes tested at the driver’s license bureau when they use a smart eye testing machine..not a wall-chart! I guess the eye-test machine can sense that my eye is not a normal eye, so I fail the test. I then have to get a letter from my eye doctor that I have normal 20/20 vision. I conclude that these machines can tell that my eye, though 20/20 can sense the changes made by the cataract surgery.
@ Robert M. M
The machines that the drivers license departments use are not truly designed to detect 20/20 vision. 20/20 vision is what most people see at 20 feet. The little machine is showing you for reading, not 20 feet away. That’s drivers license department not DOT/FMCSA, we test at 20 feet.
Will l,be able to renew my driver’s license ln florida with a reading of 20/25 in both eyes.
@ Glenda P
This is a question for Florida drivers license department.
I have my DOT medical card, passed everything but I have light sensitivity. Is top tint illegal on my truck? SHP says so but when I bought the truck it was on there.
@ Meliessa
Each state has differing opinions on window tinting. Best to confirm with your state regarding the tint. If it does not interfere with night driving, then the state may be OK with it.
I am currently in CDL school and have already acquired my DOT medical card. I wasn’t able to pass the vision test with my left eye, as it is 20/70 even with corrective lenses, but a letter from my doctor was enough to convince them to issue the card with restrictions(glasses and a yearly checkup). However, when the DMV decided to do their own testing on my vision when I went for my permit test. Now they’re telling me I need a federal vision wavier. I’m confused why my vision is being tested again AFTER acquiring the card. Shouldn’t I have needed the federal wavier to even pass the medical exam?
@ Eve S
DOT/FMCSA for a class A license requires a 20/40 or better in each eye, with or without corrective lenses. The CME should not have passed you with a vision of 20/70, corrected or uncorrected. You would require a federal vision waiver, unless your cdl is not going to be a class A license. If this is the case, then you fall under your states drivers license departments guidelines and variances.
So can I get a class B CDL without vision in one eye without a waiver? Anything helps
@ Ray
Class B is a state issued license and falls under the states guidelines and variances, not DOT/FMCSA. Check with your local drivers license department for your best answer.
I live in Washington state, I had to get two eye surgery’s on my left eye because of a detached retina. When the stapled the retina back down it left holes in the center of my eye so everything looks blurry and very small. My right eye still has 20/20 though and I can get 20/30 in the actual optometrist office but not during the chart test from the physical. Is there a way to get that waived in place of optometrist signing off or what?
@ Allen L
The CME should accept your optometrist findings. If you are a class A driver, then there will be questions, but he should still accept the optometrist reported findings.
Hi, My friend just got his Dot medical card for a job in Alabama without having to get FMCSA vision exemption. It is a non-cdl job, he has a glass eye in one eye.
I just was told at my DOT FMCSA physical that I would need to get an FMCSA exemption for a non-CDL job in the same state. I can see in both eyes but have 20/200 in one of them. My eye dr. even wrote me a statement that I have 20/20 in one eye and 20/200 in the other and he believes I am safe to drive a CMV, with no restrictions. Good peripheral. Again, friend has no sight at all in one eye. Why the difference? Do doctors have a lot of leeway in this area or something? Thanks.
@ Michael Lee C
To answer all your questions. You, as a non-cdl holder, will fall under the states guidelines and variances, not FMCSA. The examiner is trying to hold you to a class A cdl holder, which you are not. Your classification will be for intra-state only according to the states requirements and regulation. The examiner should know the differences and should pass/fail based on the states guidelines, not DOT/FMCSA.
Do i need to have my dot physical or license renewed after getting lasik? Since i do t have the handicap anymore.
@ Catherine H
The main issue will be the medical card and your license will indicate the need for corrective lenses, which you no longer need. It could make your life easier if they both indicated no need for corrective lenses. At least make sure you have a way to inform any officer of the changes, if you get stopped.
Hubby wants to have Lasik done. His first consultation recommended Lasik in one eye and KAMRA in the other. I want present at the consultation, but husband was under the impression that would result in one eye for distance vision and one for near vision.
When going for a consultation at a ridership office, that doesn’t offer KAMRA, that it would disqualify him from a cdl-a. He got upset and walked out of the office without questioning further.
He’s a current cdl-a gender driver in NC with over 15 years of cdl experience.
Would the Lasik/KAMRA cause him to not pass the dot physical?
@ Shelly
DOT/FMCSA requires a 20/40 or better in each eye individually. If one eye is for distance and one for reading, according to DOT/FMCSA he would be classed as monocular, unless he gets glasses that would allow him to see 20/40 or better with the reading eye. And he would have ‘must wear glasses’ when driving. Best to get the Lasik for distance in both eyes and wear glasses when he wants to read.
I have a driver who has always been blind in his left eye, is it possible he could get a DOT Physical for his home state only?
@ Darlene M H
Most likely. Your driver will fall under the states guidelines and variances, not FMCSA.
Hi, I have a question, can I get a commercial driver’s license, being blind in one eye?
@ Lucas q
For a class A interstate, you will have plenty of hoops to jump through. For a less class cdl or intra-state only cdl, you will fall under the state guidelines and variances. Check with your local drivers license department for guidance on this issue.