People who meet the legal definition of blindness in their better-seeing eye cannot drive. Each state sets laws on driving with a vision impairment.

Some people with low vision may use aides such as glasses, contact lenses, or telescoping lenses known as bioptic telescopes that attach to glasses to achieve vision acuity levels that allow them to drive in certain states.

In some states, you may be able to drive if you have vision in at least one eye that meets a certain visual acuity (sharpness and clarity) at a certain distance while using glasses or contact lenses. Other states may require vision in both eyes to be at a certain level.

What is visual acuity?

Having 20/20 vision means you have typical visual acuity at a distance of 20 feet away. In an eye doctor’s office, this means you can read all the letters on the line labeled “20” from 20 feet (ft) away.

Having 20/40 vision means a person with 20/40 vision can read a line on the eye chart that a person with 20/20 vision could read from 40 ft away.

As vision worsens, the second number increases.

Examples of state driving restrictions for non-commercial licenses

The following includes three examples of visual impairment driving restrictions for non-commercial vehicles:

Alabama

In Alabama, you can drive if you have 20/60 vision in your better-seeing eye.

A person with 20/60 vision can read a line on the eye chart that a person with 20/20 vision could read from 60 ft away. A person with 20/60 vision has a moderate level of vision impairment.

Oregon

In Oregon, a person must have 20/70 vision using both eyes or one eye and a visual field of 110º using both eyes to be able to drive during daylight hours but not at night.

Drivers who require corrective lenses to reach 20/70 vision must wear them while driving.

North Dakota

In North Dakota, a person must have 20/80 in their better-seeing eye if they have 20/100 in their worse-seeing eye and a visual field of 105º using both eyes. Drivers with 20/40 vision or less pass restrictions with an outside mirror requirement. Drivers with 20/50 vision or less can drive only during daytime hours and must get their vision rechecked within the next two years. Drivers with 20/70 vision in the better eye and between 20/80 and 20/100 in the worse eye require a vision recheck within one year.

You can view the requirements for other states on the American Academy of Ophthalmology website.

A person is considered legally blind if they have either:

  • central visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better-seeing eye using glasses or contact lenses with the best correction at a distance
  • visual field restriction where the widest diameter is 20 degrees or less in the better-seeing eye

Visual field restriction refers to a loss in part of your central (in front of you) or peripheral (at your sides) vision.

Visual field restriction can include:

If a person is legally blind when using corrective lenses, they cannot drive a car.

A person with low vision or who is legally blind may qualify for disability and other supports, such as assistive technology for low vision. This can include apps, braille, and seeing-eye dogs. These supports can help them complete daily tasks with low vision.