Eye Tests For HGV Drivers

Home » Eye Tests For HGV Drivers
Eye Tests For HGV Drivers

Eye Tests For HGV Drivers

Specsavers test RHA’s Richard Burnett for Road Safety Week

What are the requirements for eye tests for HGV Drivers?

Richard Burnett, RHA chief executive, had his vision tested by Specsavers as part of Road Safety Week.

Eye tests are a vital part of ensuring you’re healthy and safe on the roads.

You can find out more about Road Safety Week here: http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/

1.5 Million UK driving License Holders Have Never Had Their Eyes Tested!

This is Richard’s Stroy!

Transcript

So, I’m Richard Burnett, the Chief Exec of the Road Haulage Association.
It’s a trade body that represents the fifth largest industry in the UK.
I’ve probably been wearing glasses now for about six or seven years, so many times before, I’ve talked about this kind of blurriness in one eye with my peripheral vision.
To have used the OCT machine and to have actually found that I have an issue and referred me to a consultant, to get further tests done to understand what treatment I would need was quite astonishing for me but also a massive relief.

OCT can help to detect eye conditions up to 4 years earlier.

OOT is Optical Coherence Tomography, it uses light to create a 3D or cross section of all the structures at the back of the eye
and with that image that it creates we can analyze and interpret the data to a much more precise, much more accurate level, that we just aren’t sometimes able to do in a traditional sight test or traditional imaging.

50% of sight loss is avoidable.

Most kinds of Glaucoma are characterized by high pressure in the eye and damage is caused to the optic nerve at the back of the eye where it leaves the eye to connect to the brain.

Glaucoma is known as the silent thief of sight.
You can lose up to 40% of vision without noticing.

Damage once done, unfortunately is permanent, sight is lost and it can’t be regained but the good news is, if it is detected early there is an awful lot that can be done.
We estimate that there are 700,000 people in the UK living with glaucoma but the really scary thing is, half those people don’t know they have it so we really have to raise awareness and understanding.
I think it’s really important that in my position that I lead by example and get regular eye tests.
If you think about the roads in the UK, the roads in the UK are our place of work, you know it’s where it’s we do our business.
We need to make sure that they’re safe and that we’re having fewer accidents.

Road crashes involving a driver with poor vision are estimated to cause 2,900 casualties and cost £33 million in the UK per year.

Great eye health is is critically important for any driver but particularly for a HGV driver whose livelihood depends on their eyesight.
It’s critically important that we make sure that the people are getting the right tests and regularly.

The NHS recommends a sight test every two years.

I’m really relieved that this was found.
It’s been a good process from start to finish.

#roadsafetyweek

Learn More About Eye Tests For HGV Drivers.

Eye Tests For HGV Drivers
Shopping Basket