DVLA Esterman Visual Field Test

The government driver and vehicle licencing agency stipulates a minimum visual requirement to ensure safe driving on the roads. This ‘visual requirement’ involves the assessment of both your central vision and your peripheral vision too (corners of your vision). If the DVLA deem it necessary, they will investigate your peripheral vision by asking you to undergo a specialist type of ‘visual field test’.

DVLA Esterman Visual Field Test at Tyrrells & Embery

Historically, this test could be performed at your choice of centre, as long as the centre had the correct equipment and could offer the correct type of visual field test. A change came into place a few years ago when the DVLA decided to contract the service privately which meant cost-saving for them. This, unfortunately, led to a major inconvenience for many people as in some cases, people were being asked to go out of town to have the test done.

At Tyrrells and Embery, we are pleased to offer access to the Zeiss Humphrey Perimeter which is globally considered to be the ‘gold standard’ machine. With this perimeter, we can perform the ‘120 Point Esterman Test’ which is the visual field test commonly required by the DVLA.

Please note that the test will include a paper copy of the results, but we will not be in a position to discuss your eligibility to drive, this decision has to be taken by the DVLA themselves upon receipt of your results.

If you have any further questions regarding the DVLA / Esterman Test, please contact us.
You can find some useful information below regarding visual requirements for all drivers.

Minimum standards for field of vision for all drivers

The minimum field of vision for Group 1 driving is defined in the legislation:

A field of view of at least 120° on the horizontal measured using a target equivalent to the white Goldmann III4e settings.

The extension should be at least 50° left and right. In addition, there should be no significant defect in the binocular field that encroaches within 20° of the fixation above or below the horizontal meridian.

This means that homonymous or bitemporal defects that come close to fixation, whether hemianopic or quadrantanopic, are not usually acceptable for driving.

If the DVLA needs a visual field assessment for determining fitness to drive, it:

requires the method to be a binocular Esterman field test
may request monocular full field charts in specific conditions
exceptionally, may consider a Goldmann perimetry assessment carried out to strict criteria

Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visual-disorders-assessing-fitness-to-drive

Please note: We abstain from discussing the results having completed this particular test. The results are analysed by the DVLA only. If you have any specific questions regarding the particulars of what results are acceptable, please contact the DVLA directly.