Driving with a Detached Retina

Ask an Eye M.D. Answer Archive

Question:
Can you tell me if I can get a driving license if I have a detached retina?        

Answer:
Of course you can drive after a retinal detachment! Most people regain their vision after surgery and enjoy excellent vision after retinal detachment, thanks to astonishing advances in modern retinal surgery. But even if you lost your vision—because of long-ago retinal detachment, or long-ago surgery—you only need vision in one eye for a standard driver's license. (Some commercial licenses—for school buses or big trucks—require good vision in both eyes.)  Many people with only one eye are safe drivers—but of course they must be careful because their peripheral vision is decreased, and they do not have normal depth perception.

Answered by: Anne Sumers, MD  

Categories: General Eye Health

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