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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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is a driver with a prosthetic eye able to get approved for a DOT card. Driver is not involved in interstate commerce and does not have a CDL card.
@ Peter M C DO
It will fall to the states guidelines and variances for medical cards, not federal DOT/FMCSA. Check with the states drivers license department for guidance.
I have 20/40 vision on both eyes
But when I close my left eye
My right eye gets blurry
And becomes 20/70, that’s why I
Have been getting a Texas vision waiver
I have been driving for 23 years do I qualify
For the new rules, and would like to go
48 states
@ Manuel G
For a class A cdl, you would not qualify for your medical card without correcting this issue or getting the vision waiver.
I have had lens implants after cataract surgery and 1 lens right eye is far sighted, and left eye for near sighted. Together my vision is 20/20. How would I pass the DOT? Right eye can read every line left eye is blurry reading far away
@ Laura D
By DOT/FMCSA standards for a class A cdl, you are classed as monocular and will not pass the medical certification examination. The way out is to have corrective lenses/glasses to correct your near eye to pass the eye examination. It will be marked on your medical card as ‘must wear corrective lenses when driving’.
In your comments above, you say you can’t use contact lenses to correct monovision. Why is that? Is it because someone could accidentally swap their lenses and start bumping into walls because they see so poorly now? Is monovision legally correctable with glasses but not with contact lenses?
@ Scott S
Thanks for catching it. If auto spell check corrected the statement to real contact lenses vs corrective lenses. Which would include contact lenses. And FMCSA recommended you have both available to you while driving.
I tested 20/25 of the vision portion (with corrective lenses) I was issued a 1 year DOT medical card and I feel this is incorrect. Can I challenge this?
@ Sharon
Never heard of a one year medical card for a vision test. If you feel this is incorrect, then get a second opinion elsewhere.
I went ahead and had my cataract surgery in both eyes and an opted for distance in both eyes. My CDL is up for renewal next month. Do I take documentation showing I had cataract surgery or is there a special form I need to have the doctor fill out? Or do I just go and take the eye test with no glasses on. (my driver’s license has said corrective lenses for 20 years)
@ Lynnie
Take a note that the surgery was done and you have been released. That should be all the CME needs. Then you may have to go get a new drivers license, to remove the corrective lenses required. Keep a copy of the note from the doctor that did the surgery.
I’m 66 and going to have cataract surgery go with monovision. Can I still get my CDL if I wear glasses while driving to correct the monovision? I plan to drive a couple more years and then after that I would give up the glasses.
@ Lynne
Yes
Just make sure you update it on your license and medical card. You could get a ticket if you don’t.
I’m having cataract surgery next month and my plan is to go with monocular lenses in both eyes with one set for distance and the other for nearer vision. Insurance will cover this but will this affect my CDL, the eye exam, etc?
@ Rhonda
Class A CDL. If you do this, you will need glasses to perform the medical certification examination and will have to wear corrective lenses during driving periods. Best to go with distance vision in both eyes and corrective lenses for reading.
Will an intraocular monofocal lense implant fail me for DOT Physical?
@ Frankie
DOT/FMCSA wants a visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye. This can be without or with corrective lenses.