12 CSR 10-24.090 - Missouri Driver License or Permit Vision Test Guidelines
(1) The
director shall require any person applying for a new driver license or permit
or a person renewing a license or permit to submit to an examination of his/her
vision.
(2) The vision examination
shall be conducted with the use of the Snellan Vision Chart or other vision
device of the same standard. Vision examinations may be conducted by any person
employed by the Department of Revenue, fee office employees to whom the
director has delegated authority and members of the Missouri State Highway
Patrol. This person shall administer the vision test without cost to the
applicant. Upon notification to the department, a registered optometrist or
physician may conduct the vision examination at the applicant's own
expense.
(3) The director may issue
a license or permit with restrictions as described in sections (5)-(8) or may
deny a license or permit to any applicant as described in section
(9).
(4) Any person whose naked
vision in either eye or both eyes is 20/40 or better may receive a license or
permit without vision restrictions.
(5) Any person whose naked vision is less
than 20/40 with either eye or both eyes may receive a conditional license or
permit based upon compliance with the following standards:
(A) 20/40 or better with either eye or both
eyes with corrective lenses shall be subject to the following restriction:
1. Corrective lenses;
(B) 20/40 or better in the right eye and
applicant's left eye tests 20/100 or less shall be subject to the following
restriction(s):
1. With corrective lenses-Left
outside rearview mirror and corrective lenses; and
2. Without corrective lenses-Left outside
rearview mirror. The corrective lenses restriction may not be required if the
left eye reading cannot be improved to 20/40 or better by corrective
lenses;
(C) 20/40 or
better in the left eye and applicant's right eye tests 20/100 or less shall be
subject to the following restriction(s):
1.
With corrective lenses-Right outside rearview mirror and corrective lenses;
and
2. Without corrective
lenses-Right outside rearview mirror. The corrective lenses restriction may not
be required if the right eye reading cannot be improved to 20/40 or better by
corrective lenses; and
(D) Any applicant not meeting the vision
readings with or without correction as specified in this section shall be
referred to a registered optometrist or physician for further
testing.
(6) Any
applicant whose vision does not meet the 20/40 reading with corrective lenses
and has been referred to a registered optometrist or physician may receive a
conditional license or permit based upon compliance with the following
standards:
(A) 20/40 or better with either eye
or both eyes with corrective lenses shall be subject to the following
restriction:
1. Corrective lenses;
(B) 20/41-20/59 with either eye or
both eyes with corrective lenses shall be subject to the following restriction:
1. Corrective lenses; and daylight driving
only; and
(C) 20/60-20/74
with either eye or both eyes with corrective lenses shall be subject to the
following restriction:
1. Corrective lenses;
daylight driving only; and operating a motor vehicle at no more than forty-five
miles per hour (45 mph).
(7) Any applicant for a driver license whose
vision reading is 20/75-21/160 with either eye or both eyes with corrective
lenses shall be referred to the department. The department shall require the
applicant to submit to an examination to determine his/her ability to operate a
vehicle safely upon the public streets and highways of this state in spite of
the vision infirmity. If the department is satisfied that the person safely can
operate a motor vehicle, a conditional license restricting the applicant to
points of operation, times of operation or any other driving conditions deemed
necessary may be issued. The examination is not required prior to issuance of a
permit.
(8) A restriction may be
removed or waived from the driver license or permit under the following
circumstances:
(A) If an applicant's vision is
better than 20/160 and cannot be improved with corrective lenses, the
corrective lenses restriction shall not be required. Other restrictions may be
required as determined by the department; and
(B) If a registered optometrist or physician
recommends removal of the daylight driving only restriction; or operating a
motor vehicle at no more than forty-five miles per hour (45 mph)
restriction.
(9) Any
applicant with a vision reading of 20/161 or less shall be denied a Missouri
driver license or permit.
(10)
Vision readings completed by a registered optometrist or physician are valid
for one (1) year from date of eye examination.
(11) Any applicant requesting a license with
aid of bioptic telescopic lenses, whether monocular or binocular, must be able
to pass a vision test, up to 20/160, without the aid of a telescopic lens or
lenses to be eligible for a Missouri license. If the applicant has a telescopic
lens or lenses mounted above the line of sight through the carrier lens of the
glasses, the telescopic lens can be a supplement to the person's vision. Under
no condition can the telescopic lens be used to correct the person's vision in
order to meet the licensing standard up to 20/160.
Notes
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