Bioptic Telescope laws in Georgia

Rule 375-3-5-.08 - Vision

Certain cases of poor function in visual acuity, visual fields, ocular mobility, dark adaptation, and color blindness will cause the individual to be reviewed under this section.
- Visual acuity should be recorded using the Snellen notation.
- Individuals with visual acuity of at least 20/60 corrected or uncorrected, in at least one eye or better and a horizontal field of vision with both eyes open of at least 140 degrees or, in the event that one eye only has usable vision, horizontal field of vision must be at least 70 degrees temporally and 50 degrees nasally.
- Individuals with visual acuity less than 20/60 but better than 20/200 using spectacles, contact lenses, or the carrier portion of the bioptic spectacles shall be considered eligible for a driver's license if not otherwise disqualified from having a driver's license under the following provisions:
  1. The person can attain a visual acuity of at least 20/60 through utilizing bioptic telescopes;
  2. The telescopes are prescribed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist;
  3. The person presents documentation of having satisfactorily completed training in the use of the bioptic telescope as certified by the prescribing doctor;
  4. The person completes a standard driver's education course while using the bioptic telescopes prior to the on-the-road evaluation;
  5. The person present documentation from the prescribing doctor; proof of completing a standard driver's education course to the Department of Driver Services certified driver's license examiner at the time of the on-the-road evaluation; satisfactorily completes any recommended training in driving while using bioptic telescopes from the Department of Driver Services examiner; and, passes a written and driver's test examination at the exam station.
- Any person who is licensed to drive using bioptic telescopes shall be subject to restrictions placed on his or her license as determined or recommended by the prescribing optometrist or ophthalmologist or the Department of Driver Services driver's license examiner.
- Any recommended restrictions shall be reported to the Department in writing and presented to the examiner at the time the person appears for a driver's license examination.
- Restrictions may include the following:
  1. Daylight driving only;
  2. Outside rear-view mirrors;
  3. Certain area;
  4. Time restrictions;
  5. No interstate driving;
  6. Yearly reevaluations by an optometrist or ophthalmologist; and
  7. Other such restrictions deemed appropriate.
- Any restrictions imposed shall be subject to review and reconsideration after one year by completing all of the steps described in subparagraphs 1. through 5. of paragraph (c), which may include completing any additional testing under special conditions, as determined by the optometrist or ophthalmologist.
- The user of a bioptic telescope shall be required every two years to renew his or her driver's license, be reevaluated by an optometrist or ophthalmologist and pass the driver's road test examination administered by the Department of Driver Services.
- The user of a bioptic telescope, in addition to paragraph (h), is required to present to the Department of Driver Services, at time of renewal, a certification by the optometrist or ophthalmologist, that the user's visual acuity, visual field, and eye health remain stable.
- In the event changes in vision are determined, the person's driver's license shall expire and the person must successfully repeat all of the steps described in paragraphs (b) through (e).

Any person applying for a license to operate a commercial motor vehicle as defined in O.C.G.A. § 40-5-142, who is not required to obtain a commercial driver's license to operate such vehicle, and who has lost some or all of the vision in one (1) eye may be exempted from the vision standard set forth in paragraph (1)(b) of this regulation by providing the Department with medical evidence satisfactory to the Department that said applicant's visual acuity in the other eye is at least 20/40 corrected or uncorrected. Said medical evidence shall include the following a signed statement on letterhead from an ophthalmologist or optometrist who has examined the applicant within three (3) months of the date of the application which:
- Identifies and defines the nature and duration of the vision deficiency;
- States the date of examination;
- Certifies that the visual deficiency is stable;
- Identifies the visual acuity of each eye, corrected and uncorrected;
- Identifies the field of vision of each eye, including central and peripheral fields, testing to at least 120° in the horizontal. (Formal perimetry is required. The doctor must submit the formal perimetry for each eye and interpret the results in degrees of field of vision.);
- Identifies if the applicant has the ability to recognize the colors of traffic control signals and devices showing red, green, and amber; and
- Certifies that in his/her medical opinion, the applicant has sufficient vision to perform the driving tasks required to operate a commercial vehicle.
An exemption may be issued for a maximum of 2 years, but may be renewed at the discretion of the Department.