Received my driver's license application for renewal

debodun

debodun

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Location
way upstate in New York, USA
It expires this April. It will be interesting to see if my vision is good enough to qualify continued driving. Since the last time, I lost vision in my left eye due to retinal detachment. Surgeries didn't help much. I have some vision, but it's distorted and blurry. My right eye depends on distance corrective lenses, but they are very old. I notice even they only help a bit these days.
 

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@debodun I have the same problem with eye sight as my driver's license expires next year in April. I had an eye doctor send a letter to the driver's license renewal place in the past and they let me pass but not sure this upcoming year. I have lost some sight in one eye and still can see with glasses but was told I need cataract surgery.

I wish you the best and hope it works out well for you.
 

When I renewed my license in 2025, had to go to the DMV because my picture didn't match my old license.
I was ready, because of my age, to have my vision retested. (73)
Waited in a long line due to RealID people getting the upgrade.

When my time came, handed my application for renewal to the clerk and they only asked me if I was applying for a RealId
(said no) and standard questions if I still lived at the address shown.

About a minute or so later, they told me to sit and have a new picture taken.
Machine spit-out new license and I was on my way.
No vision test.

This was in Tennessee.
 
debodun said:
It expires this April. It will be interesting to see if my vision is good enough to qualify continued driving. Since the last time, I lost vision in my left eye due to retinal detachment. Surgeries didn't help much. I have some vision, but it's distorted and blurry. My right eye depends on distance corrective lenses, but they are very old. I notice even they only help a bit these days.
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Have your ophthalmologist provide the eye test and renew by mail if possible.

Good luck!
 
Feelslikefar said:
When I renewed my license in 2025, had to go to the DMV because my picture didn't match my old license.
I was ready, because of my age, to have my vision retested. (73)
Waited in a long line due to RealID people getting the upgrade.

When my time came, handed my application for renewal to the clerk and they only asked me if I was applying for a RealId
(said no) and standard questions if I still lived at the address shown.

About a minute or so later, they told me to sit and have a new picture taken.
Machine spit-out new license and I was on my way.
No vision test.

This was in Tennessee.
Click to expand...

As I was reading, I thought this sounds like my 2025 experience - no wonder - I also live in Tennessee.

The only differerence was the automatic photo taker didn’t recognize me because my photo had always been taken with my glasses ON.

Nowadays they want my glasses OFF. So a cranky DMV employee had to stop and take my photo manually— and boy she made sure it was fugly🥸🥸

@Feelslikefar , I think our licenses are good for eight years? If that’s the case I will either be 86 by then and probably won’t care if I am still driving
 
Here in the Uk they're just passing a law now as we speak, that people over 70 must take an eye test when re-applying for our driving licences..

I don't know about anywhere other than the uK.. but here we have our licences without any breaks until we're 70.. no medicals etc.. then at 70 we have to renew and then renew every 3 years after that. I just turned 70 last birthday.. and typically they've changed the rules in 2026 so now we need eye tests ...which apparently we can take any time with a qualified optician within the previous 12 months prior to renewal of the licence

I have another 2 years before I need to renew, and barring anything awful happening, I should be fine...
 
debodun said:
I lost vision in my left eye due to retinal detachment.
Click to expand...
One eye should be enough if you can see well enough. Its definitely less stressful to have your eye doctor submit a form. When I moved to Maryland the DMV made me read the wall chart to get a Maryland license because I didn't have a Maryland eye doctor at that time. I stressed so much about it, but the person had marked me as 'passed' (with glasses) while I was still dithering about 'Z, no wait, its a 2...no, a Z...perhaps a 2...'

Here's what Google says you need to pass, I think you can maybe print a eye chart off the internet and figure out where to stand and pre-verify you can pass before you go:

DMV offices typically use a Snellen wall chart or a backlit machine (such as the Optic 1000) to check vision. To pass, you must have a visual acuity of at least 20/40 in either or both eyes, with or without corrective lenses.

Vision in just one eye is acceptable, provided that eye meets the 20/40 standard. ​

Key Vision Test Details:​
  • Requirements: You must pass with at least 20/40 vision, which can be achieved using glasses or contacts. If you require lenses to pass, a restriction will be added to your license.
  • Testing Method: The test often involves reading rows of letters on a wall-mounted Snellen chart. It may be conducted by a DMV employee or, conveniently, by a private vision provider who submits results directly to the DMV Registry.
  • One Eye vs. Both: 20/40 vision in just one eye is generally sufficient to pass.
  • Preparation: If you are unsure of your vision, it is highly recommended to have an eye exam with an optometrist beforehand to ensure you can read the 20/40 line.
If you cannot pass the test at the DMV, you will be required to have an eye care professional complete a Vision Test Report (MV-619).​
 
debodun said:
It expires this April. It will be interesting to see if my vision is good enough to qualify continued driving. Since the last time, I lost vision in my left eye due to retinal detachment. Surgeries didn't help much. I have some vision, but it's distorted and blurry. My right eye depends on distance corrective lenses, but they are very old. I notice even they only help a bit these days.
Click to expand...
they probably only help a little because you may need a stronger prescrition.. just go and get it done, and you'll be fine
 
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hollydolly said:
Here in the Uk they're just passing a law now as we speak, that people over 70 must take an eye test when re-applying for our driving licences..

I don't know about anywhere other than the uK.. but here we have our licences without any breaks until we're 70.. no medicals etc.. then at 70 we have to renew and then renew every 3 years after that. I just turned 70 last birthday.. and typically they've changed the rules in 2026 so now we need eye tests ...which apparently we can take any time with a qualified optician within the previous 12 months prior to renewal of the licence

I have another 2 years before I need to renew, and barring anything awful happening, I should be fine...
Click to expand...
mines due this year,i aint got a chance in hell,i failed a month or so ago,told to come back in 6months
 
I turn 65 this March and so I have to go in for an eye exam. After that I have to get my license renewed every 5 years instead of every 12 years. No one warned me that turning 65 was a PITA ( drivers license, signing up for Medicare, and other trivial things ) :D .
 
The last time mine was due, I called for a time to take the eye test at the DR and they told me it was not required anymore and all I had to do is call the DMV and ask for a renewal. So I did that and they sent me my license in the mail. I asked a lot fo questions especially re the status of the license and was told I was good to go, just continue on driving as I had been. So I did. I still had my car then. My license was issused for 6 yrs and it's still good if I wannna drive.
 
jet said:
mines due this year,i aint got a chance in hell,i failed a month or so ago,told to come back in 6months
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I understand your frustration, Jet.. being the big independent guy you've always been but you're so impatient, bless you.... you're just recovering from a serious illness.. 2 or 3 in fact... ... just another 6 months more for you to ride around on that mobility scooter, just to get your eyes better ... ((hugs))
 
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I haven't had any problems driving since my vision loss, but then I usually drive in an area I am familiar with or that isn't too busy - like my meal delivery route or to the grocery. The meal route is about 23 miles, but mostly rural.

When I have to go to my retinal surgeon, I have to have someone drive me to and from that since mt eyes are always dilated and it necessitates driving on busy, congested highways. It's the same route I used to go to work and back and, believe me, it was no treat even then.
 
I'm age 90 now. I stopped driving at age 80. I gave my car to one of my grandkids. I use limo services if I ever need a ride. They charge a flat fee of $ 65 per hour + $ 25 tip for the driver. My wife and I travel very infrequently. If we need a drive, our son-in-law takes us most of the time and I usually give him $ 200 regardless of the trip.

When one gets old and rarely travels anywhere, It pays to get rid of the car and use limos or relatives to get somewhere.
 
Deb, go to your optometrist or ophthalmologist and get your eyes tested. You probably need new glasses. Your eye situation is similar to mine and they’ve told me that just using one eye makes it work harder. I need stronger glasses more often than most. Good luck.
 
Deb, I had to take a sight test when I applied for a license in another state. I figured I'd fail it since I knew I couldn't see well enough to drive -- but still needed a license. I planned to have cataract surgery "soon".

So I am looking at all those letters, and their vague shapes look very familiar. So I read them out and sure enough, that line spelled Trixie and I correctly guessed the final letter!

Why Trixie? It has to be because I read every single Trixie Belden book when I was a kid.

That victory was short-lived because a month earlier, the state started requiring a birth certificate to get a driver's license and I still hadn't applied to the State Department to get one.

These events fall under the category "Why it isn't a good idea to procrastinate".
 
debodun said:
It expires this April. It will be interesting to see if my vision is good enough to qualify continued driving. Since the last time, I lost vision in my left eye due to retinal detachment. Surgeries didn't help much. I have some vision, but it's distorted and blurry. My right eye depends on distance corrective lenses, but they are very old. I notice even they only help a bit these days.
Click to expand...
Good luck Deb. I was sad when I wasn't able to pass the eye test and lost my license after all those years. But, there comes a time some of us should not be operating a vehicle, for our safety and that of others. Hugs.
 
debodun said:
Here I believe if a person doesn't pass the vision test, they get a second chance if they get glasses or if they already wear them, an updated prescription.
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why go to all the bother and chance ?..why not just go and get your eyes tested now, and get new glasses?
 

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