Driving and Eyesight: Vision Requirements for Driving in Singapore

Author: Dr Val Phua
Estimated reading time: 24 minutes

Good vision is essential for safe driving.

Drivers must be able to:

• Read road signs
• Recognise traffic lights
• Detect pedestrians and cyclists
• Notice vehicles approaching from the side
• Judge distance and speed
• See lane markings
• Respond to hazards in dim light or rain
• Recover from glare caused by headlights
• Monitor mirrors while maintaining attention on the road

A person may read the smallest letters on an eye chart and still experience difficulty driving because driving depends on more than visual acuity.

Other important visual functions include:

• Peripheral visual field
• Contrast sensitivity
• Depth perception
• Eye coordination
• Glare recovery
• Night vision
• Colour discrimination
• Visual attention
• Speed of visual processing

In Singapore, applicants for a Provisional Driving Licence must pass an eyesight test at one of the three driving centres. The Road Traffic rules require an applicant to be able, with spectacles or contact lenses if worn, to read a vehicle-registration-style sequence of six letters and figures from 25 metres and to distinguish red, amber and green from the same distance.

These are legal minimum requirements rather than a guarantee that every aspect of the person’s vision is safe for all driving situations.

A driver with:

• Glaucoma
• Cataract
• Macular disease
• Double vision
• Significant visual-field loss
• Night blindness
• Vision in only one eye
• Another condition affecting safe driving

may require a more detailed medical or ophthalmic assessment.

Traffic Police states that drivers of any age who have a medical condition or physical disability that may affect their fitness to drive require medical certification from a Singapore-registered medical practitioner. An additional occupational-therapy driving assessment may also be required in selected cases.

This article describes the requirements in force in August 2026. Regulations and administrative processes can change, and the final licensing decision rests with the Traffic Police or Land Transport Authority.

The Quick Answer

What Is the Basic Eyesight Requirement for Driving in Singapore?

Under the Road Traffic rules, a licence applicant must be able to:

• Read six vehicle-registration-style letters and figures at 25 metres
• Use spectacles or contact lenses for this test when required
• Distinguish red, amber and green at 25 metres

Applicants for a Provisional Driving Licence must pass a visual-acuity and colour-vision test before the licence can be issued.

Do I Need 6/6 Vision to Drive?

The public Singapore legislation does not state that every ordinary driver must achieve 6/6 vision.

The published legal standard is expressed as the ability to read the specified registration-style characters at 25 metres, with correction when worn.

A person may therefore be able to meet the functional requirement without achieving perfect 6/6 vision.

However, medical assessments for:

• Older drivers
• Heavy-vehicle drivers
• Vocational drivers
• Drivers with eye disease
• Drivers with physical or neurological conditions

may apply additional standards based on the licence class and clinical circumstances.

Can I Wear Glasses or Contact Lenses for the Test?

Yes.

Singapore’s Road Traffic rules expressly allow the eyesight requirement to be met with spectacles or contact lenses when worn.

A driver who requires correction to see adequately should wear it whenever driving.

Is Colour Blindness an Automatic Disqualification?

Not necessarily.

The statutory requirement is the ability to distinguish red, amber and green from 25 metres.

A person who fails an Ishihara colour-plate test may still recognise traffic-signal colours using:

• Colour
• Brightness
• Position
• Context

However, the ability to meet the required functional colour test must still be demonstrated.

A comprehensive colour-vision assessment may be useful when the screening result and real-world traffic-light recognition do not agree.

Is Night Blindness Tested?

The routine visual requirements for a new driving licence do not currently include a specific night-blindness test.

However, applicants must declare a disease or physical disability that could make their driving a danger to the public. The Ministry of Home Affairs has specifically stated that this includes night blindness when it significantly impairs driving ability, and that a false declaration is an offence.

Can Someone with Vision in Only One Eye Drive?

Loss of vision in one eye does not, by itself, answer whether a person is fit to drive.

The assessment may consider:

• Vision in the remaining eye
• Peripheral visual field
• Cause and stability of the visual loss
• Adaptation period
• Depth judgement
• Head and eye movements
• Licence class
• Other medical conditions
• On-road performance

Because monocular vision is a medical condition that may affect driving ability, medical certification or an individual driving assessment may be required.

Do Older Drivers Need Regular Medical Examinations?

Yes.

From age 65:

• Holders of Class 2 and Class 3 group licences generally require medical certification every three years.
• Holders of Class 4 and Class 5 group licences require annual medical certification and a proficiency driving test until age 74.

Traffic Police now uses the digital Harmonised Medical Examination Report for these assessments.

Singapore’s Legal Eyesight Standard

The 25-Metre Registration-Character Test

The Road Traffic rules refer to the ability to read, from 25 metres, a series of six white letters and figures on a black background in the same size and arrangement as a motor-vehicle identification mark.

The test may be completed with:

• Spectacles
• Contact lenses
• No optical correction when it is not needed

This is a functional distance-vision test.

It is not identical to a standard clinic Snellen chart because:

• The target is different.
• The viewing conditions may differ.
• It tests practical character recognition.
• It does not assess every component of visual function.

Passing the test does not exclude:

• Glaucoma
• Peripheral visual-field loss
• Cataract-related glare
• Macular distortion
• Double vision
• Poor night vision
• Reduced contrast sensitivity

The published legal requirements should therefore be understood as minimum licensing criteria rather than a complete ophthalmic assessment.

The Colour-Vision Requirement

The same rules require an applicant to distinguish:

• Red
• Amber
• Green

from a distance of 25 metres.

The legislation does not specify that an applicant must pass a particular number of Ishihara plates.

This distinction matters because an Ishihara test primarily screens for congenital red-green colour-vision deficiency, whereas traffic-light recognition is a functional task influenced by:

• Signal position
• Brightness
• Saturation
• Surrounding lights
• Day or night conditions
• Weather
• The severity and type of colour deficiency

A person should not assume that failing a colour-plate screening test automatically proves fitness or unfitness to drive. The result should be interpreted according to the actual licensing test and, when necessary, a more detailed assessment.

Eyesight Testing for Learner Drivers

Before applying for a Provisional Driving Licence, Singapore citizens and permanent residents must pass:

• The eyesight test
• The Basic Theory Test

The eyesight test is conducted when the applicant registers at one of the three driving centres to book the theory test. Learners aged 65 or older must also be certified medically fit by a Singapore-registered medical practitioner before applying for the PDL.

A person attending the test should bring and wear:

• Their current distance spectacles
• Their usual contact lenses
• Any backup spectacles required by the centre

Using an old or inaccurate prescription may cause an avoidable failure.

Is There a Published Snellen Cut-Off?

Singapore’s publicly accessible Road Traffic rules describe the 25-metre functional test rather than publishing one universal Snellen fraction for every driver.

The newer Harmonised Medical Examination Report uses different medical standards according to licence group:

• Group 1: Class 2 and Class 3 driving licences
• Group 2: Class 4, Class 5 and vocational licences

LTA states that higher medical standards apply to Group 2 drivers. The full numerical medical criteria used within the digital assessment are not all reproduced on the public HMER webpage.

Parents, patients and doctors should therefore avoid applying eyesight thresholds copied from another country to a Singapore licensing decision.

Passing the Legal Test Versus Seeing Safely

A driver may meet the minimum registration-character test but remain unsafe in particular circumstances.

Examples include:

• Advanced glaucoma with tunnel vision
• Cataract causing severe night glare
• Macular degeneration causing distortion
• Intermittent double vision
• Hemianopia after a stroke
• Sudden loss of vision in one eye
• Poor contrast sensitivity in rain
• Delayed recovery after oncoming headlights

Medical fitness to drive should consider both:

• The legal standard
• The person’s real functional ability

Visual Functions Important for Driving

Visual Acuity

Visual acuity measures the ability to recognise fine detail at high contrast.

It helps a driver see:

• Road signs
• Vehicle-registration numbers
• Lane markings
• Pedestrians
• Traffic signals
• Hazards at a distance

Visual acuity may be reduced by:

• Uncorrected myopia
• Hyperopia
• Astigmatism
• Cataract
• Corneal disease
• Macular disease
• Optic-nerve disease
• Amblyopia

A proper assessment should measure each eye separately and the two eyes together where appropriate.

Visual Field

The visual field is the area that can be seen while looking straight ahead.

Peripheral vision helps a driver detect:

• A motorcycle approaching from the side
• A pedestrian stepping off the pavement
• A vehicle in an adjacent lane
• Hazards near a junction
• Objects while reversing
• Movement outside the central line of sight

Visual-field loss may develop gradually and remain unnoticed because the brain fills in missing areas.

Important causes include:

• Glaucoma
• Stroke
• Retinal detachment
• Retinal vascular occlusion
• Optic-nerve disease
• Brain tumours
• Neurological injury

Studies of drivers with glaucoma have found that more severe binocular visual-field impairment is associated with poorer driving performance and a greater risk of collisions. A 2025 systematic review reported problems with hazard response, lane maintenance and night driving among patients with moderate or severe glaucomatous field loss.

Contrast Sensitivity

Contrast sensitivity is the ability to see an object that does not stand out sharply from its background.

Examples include:

• A pedestrian wearing dark clothing at night
• A grey car in heavy rain
• A kerb in poor illumination
• A faded lane marking
• A vehicle approaching through glare

A conventional eye chart uses black letters on a white background and may not reveal significant contrast loss.

Contrast sensitivity may be reduced by:

• Cataract
• Corneal disease
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration
• Optic neuropathy
• Multifocal optical effects
• Poor tear-film quality

Research suggests that contrast sensitivity and visual-processing measures may correlate more closely with real driving performance than high-contrast visual acuity alone.

Glare Recovery

Glare recovery describes how quickly useful vision returns after exposure to bright light.

Drivers may experience glare from:

• Oncoming headlights
• Reflections from wet roads
• Low afternoon sun
• Bright illuminated signs
• Vehicle mirrors

Cataract is a common cause of prolonged glare recovery.

A patient may achieve reasonably good chart vision in a bright clinic but remain unable to drive safely at night.

Night Vision

Driving at night requires the visual system to operate under low illumination.

Difficulty may be caused by:

• Cataract
• Uncorrected refractive error
• Large pupils
• Corneal irregularity
• Retinal disease
• Vitamin A deficiency
• Inherited retinal dystrophy
• Glaucoma
• Optical glare

Singapore does not currently perform a routine specific night-blindness test for every licence applicant. A person whose night vision is significantly impaired must nevertheless declare the condition when it may make driving dangerous.

Depth Perception

Binocular depth perception depends on the brain combining slightly different images from the two eyes.

It helps with:

• Judging following distance
• Parking
• Merging
• Overtaking
• Estimating an approaching vehicle’s position

People with one useful eye may lose stereoscopic depth perception but can often use alternative clues such as:

• Apparent object size
• Motion
• Perspective
• Shadow
• Relative position
• Head movement

Adaptation varies considerably.

An individual assessment is therefore more informative than assuming that all monocular drivers are either safe or unsafe. On-road research has found that many people with monocular vision can drive safely, while substantial individual differences remain.

Eye Coordination and Double Vision

The two eyes must remain aligned so that the brain receives one stable image.

Double vision may arise from:

• Cranial-nerve palsy
• Thyroid eye disease
• Myasthenia gravis
• Stroke
• Head injury
• Decompensated strabismus
• Orbital disease
• Neurological disease

Driving with uncontrolled double vision is unsafe.

Closing or patching one eye may remove the second image, but this also changes:

• Visual field
• Depth perception
• Adaptation
• Licensing considerations

A person with new double vision should stop driving and obtain prompt medical assessment.

Colour Vision

Traffic lights are designed with:

• Standardised colours
• Consistent vertical or horizontal positions
• Bright luminance
• Contextual road information

Many people with congenital red-green colour deficiency can recognise traffic signals adequately.

However, severe colour-vision abnormalities, acquired colour loss or difficulty distinguishing red, amber and green under real conditions require further assessment.

Acquired colour-vision changes may be caused by:

• Optic-nerve disease
• Macular disease
• Medication toxicity
• Neurological disease

A new change in colour perception is not simply a licensing issue; it may indicate eye disease.

Common Eye Conditions and Driving

Refractive Error

Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are usually compatible with driving when appropriately corrected.

Drivers should ensure that:

• Their distance prescription is current.
• The windscreen and spectacles are clean.
• The lenses are not excessively scratched.
• Contact lenses remain comfortable.
• Backup spectacles are available.

A person who has increasing difficulty reading signs should arrange a refraction rather than move closer to vehicles or rely on squinting.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia affects near focus rather than distance vision.

It may interfere with seeing:

• Dashboard displays
• Navigation screens
• Parking coupons
• Mobile navigation instructions

Bifocal or progressive lenses can correct both distance and near vision.

Drivers adapting to progressive lenses should understand that the lower and side portions may produce:

• Blur
• Distortion
• A swimming sensation

Care is particularly important when:

• Looking into side mirrors
• Reversing
• Walking on stairs immediately after leaving the vehicle

Cataract

Cataract may cause:

• Blurred vision
• Glare
• Halos
• Reduced contrast
• Faded colours
• Difficulty driving at night
• Frequent prescription changes

A driver may still pass a high-contrast acuity chart while experiencing major functional difficulty in rain or darkness.

Research involving older drivers has associated cataract with greater driving difficulty and increased collision risk. Driving-simulator studies show improvements in contrast sensitivity and some driving-performance measures following cataract surgery.

When Can I Drive After Cataract Surgery?

There is no one fixed number of days that applies to every patient.

Driving should resume only when:

• The surgeon has allowed it.
• Vision meets the necessary standard.
• The patient is no longer affected by dilating drops.
• There is no significant double vision.
• Glare is manageable.
• The patient feels confident controlling the vehicle.
• Any required spectacle correction is available.

The patient should not drive home on the day of surgery.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and may cause progressive visual-field loss.

The central reading vision can remain 6/6 until relatively late.

A driver with glaucoma may therefore read road signs clearly but miss:

• Pedestrians at the side
• Motorcycles in an adjacent lane
• Vehicles at junctions
• Hazards in dim light

Moderate and severe glaucomatous field loss—particularly when it affects both eyes—has been associated with poorer lane maintenance, slower responses and greater collision risk.

A driving assessment may include:

• Visual acuity
• Humphrey visual fields
• An integrated binocular visual field
• Esterman binocular testing
• Contrast sensitivity
• Functional or on-road assessment

No single glaucoma measurement perfectly predicts driving safety.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration affects central vision.

A driver may experience:

• Distortion
• Missing central detail
• Difficulty recognising signs
• Poor face recognition
• Reduced contrast
• Delayed dark adaptation

Peripheral vision may remain relatively intact, but central visual impairment can make driving unsafe.

New distortion or a central dark patch requires prompt retinal assessment.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes may affect driving vision through:

• Fluctuating refraction
• Macular oedema
• Retinal haemorrhage
• Vitreous haemorrhage
• Retinal detachment
• Cataract

Vision can deteriorate suddenly when bleeding occurs.

Drivers with diabetes should also consider non-visual risks such as hypoglycaemia and loss of consciousness, which require separate medical assessment.

Retinal Detachment and Retinal Tears

A retinal tear may cause:

• Flashes
• New floaters
• A shower of black spots

A retinal detachment may produce:

• A curtain
• A shadow
• Peripheral-field loss
• Sudden visual reduction

A driver experiencing these symptoms should stop driving and seek urgent retinal assessment.

Retinal Vein or Artery Occlusion

A retinal vascular occlusion may cause sudden:

• Blurred vision
• Field loss
• Central distortion
• Loss of vision in one eye

The effect on fitness to drive depends on:

• Remaining vision
• Field
• Cause
• Stability
• Adaptation
• Licence class

Sudden visual loss should be assessed before driving resumes.

Corneal Disease

Conditions such as:

• Keratoconus
• Corneal scars
• Recurrent erosion
• Severe dry eye
• Corneal dystrophy

may cause:

• Glare
• Ghost images
• Fluctuating blur
• Poor night vision
• Reduced contrast

A standard spectacle prescription may not fully correct irregular corneal optics.

Dry Eye

Dry eye may cause intermittent blur that improves after blinking.

During driving, the driver may blink less frequently while concentrating.

Symptoms can worsen with:

• Air conditioning
• Long journeys
• Contact lenses
• Night driving
• Previous eye surgery

Dry eye is usually treatable, but persistent fluctuating vision should not be ignored.

One-Eyed or Monocular Drivers

Is Monocular Vision Automatically Unsafe?

No single conclusion applies to everyone.

A person who gradually loses vision in one eye may adapt differently from someone who experiences sudden loss.

Important considerations include:

• Stable vision in the remaining eye
• Adequate field
• Absence of progressive disease
• Time for adaptation
• Ability to scan with head movements
• Depth judgement
• Driving history
• Licence class

Singapore Police advises drivers with medical conditions or disabilities affecting their fitness to obtain medical certification. An occupational-therapy driving assessment may be required to verify safe driving ability.

Adaptation After Sudden Loss

After sudden loss of one eye’s vision, the person may initially experience difficulty with:

• Depth judgement
• Reaching for objects
• Parking
• Judging steps
• Detecting hazards on the affected side

The person should not immediately resume driving simply because the remaining eye reads well on a chart.

A period of medical recovery and functional adaptation may be required.

Protecting the Remaining Eye

A driver with one useful eye should:

• Attend regular eye examinations.
• Use the correct prescription.
• Control glaucoma, diabetes and blood pressure.
• Wear protective eyewear for hazardous work or sport.
• Seek urgent care for any new symptom in the better eye.

Visual-Field Loss

Hemianopia

Hemianopia is loss of one side of the visual field in both eyes, commonly caused by:

• Stroke
• Brain tumour
• Head injury
• Neurological surgery

A person may repeatedly miss:

• Vehicles on one side
• Pedestrians
• Road signs
• Junction hazards

Some people learn compensatory scanning movements, but performance varies.

On-road studies show that visual-field measurements alone do not perfectly predict who will drive safely, supporting individual functional assessment in selected cases.

Quadrantanopia

Quadrantanopia affects one quarter of the visual field.

Its effect depends on:

• Location
• Size
• Awareness
• Compensation
• Coexisting neurological deficits

A superior-field defect may affect overhead signs or traffic lights.

An inferior-field defect may affect kerbs, lane markings and nearby obstacles.

Esterman Visual-Field Testing

The Esterman binocular test assesses points across the functional binocular visual field.

It may be requested when evaluating:

• Glaucoma
• Neurological field loss
• Advanced retinal disease
• Fitness to drive

The result should be interpreted together with:

• Reliability
• Visual acuity
• Clinical diagnosis
• Contrast sensitivity
• Driving demands
• Functional assessment

Passing or failing one test point pattern should not be considered in isolation from the complete medical evaluation.

Night Driving

Why Is Night Driving More Difficult?

At night:

• Pupils enlarge.
• Contrast is reduced.
• Headlights create glare.
• Road markings may be less visible.
• Reaction time may be effectively shortened because hazards are detected later.
• Rain and reflections further degrade visibility.

Patients with cataract, glaucoma, corneal irregularity or retinal disease may experience disproportionate difficulty.

Warning Signs of Unsafe Night Vision

Drivers should seek assessment when they:

• Avoid all night driving because signs cannot be seen.
• Cannot recognise pedestrians until very close.
• Are dazzled for prolonged periods by headlights.
• See multiple images around lights.
• Frequently miss exits or lane markings.
• Require another person to guide them.
• Experience worsening vision at dusk.

Self-Restriction

Some drivers voluntarily restrict themselves by:

• Driving only in daylight
• Avoiding expressways
• Avoiding rain
• Using familiar routes
• Avoiding peak traffic

Self-restriction may reduce risk but does not replace medical assessment when a condition may make driving dangerous.

Spectacles and Driving

Wear the Correct Prescription

Distance spectacles should be:

• Current
• Clean
• Free from major scratches
• Properly centred
• Comfortable

A prescription that is several years old may no longer provide adequate vision.

Keep a Spare Pair

A spare pair is useful when:

• The main glasses break.
• A contact lens is lost.
• The eyes become too dry for contact lenses.
• The driver is travelling.
• The prescription is required by a licensing condition.

Progressive Lenses

Progressive lenses provide:

• Distance vision through the upper zone
• Intermediate vision through the middle
• Near vision through the lower zone

Drivers should turn their head rather than looking sideways through a blurred peripheral portion of the lens.

Tinted Lenses

Very dark lenses may reduce visibility:

• At night
• In tunnels
• During heavy rain
• In covered car parks

Photochromic lenses may not darken fully behind a vehicle windscreen because the glass blocks much of the ultraviolet light that activates them.

Contact Lenses and Driving

Contact lenses are permitted when they provide the necessary correction.

Drivers should:

• Carry backup spectacles.
• Avoid driving with a painful or red eye.
• Remove lenses if vision becomes cloudy.
• Use lubricants when appropriate.
• Never drive when one lens has fallen out and binocular vision is significantly unbalanced.
• Replace lenses according to schedule.

Contact lenses should not be rinsed with tap water.

After Dilating Eye Drops

Dilating drops may cause:

• Light sensitivity
• Near blur
• Reduced contrast
• Difficulty focusing
• Glare

Some patients retain adequate distance vision, while others do not.

The safest approach is to arrange alternative transport after a dilated eye examination rather than assuming driving will be comfortable.

After Laser Eye Surgery

Driving should resume only when:

• Vision is adequate.
• The surgeon permits it.
• There is no significant glare or haze.
• Both eyes work comfortably together.
• The patient is no longer using medication that significantly blurs vision.

LASIK, SMILE and PRK do not remove the need to meet driving standards.

Medical Examinations for Older Drivers

Drivers Aged 65 and Above

Traffic Police requires drivers aged 65 or older to undergo a Fitness to Drive medical examination by a Singapore-registered medical practitioner.

Under the HMER digital process:

• The driver receives a notification letter.
• The doctor accesses the report through the letter’s QR code.
• The doctor submits the report electronically.
• The driver receives SMS notifications regarding submission and outcome.

Class 2 and Class 3 Group Licences

Drivers certified fit receive validity for the next three years and repeat the medical examination every three years.

This group includes the ordinary motorcycle and motor-car licence classes listed by Traffic Police.

Class 4 and Class 5 Group Licences

Drivers must:

• Be certified medically fit each year
• Pass the required Proficiency or Enhanced Proficiency Driving Test
• Repeat the process until age 74

The licence is generally validated for one year after the requirements are met.

Vocational Drivers

Vocational licences include licences to drive:

• Taxis
• Private-hire cars
• Buses
• Other specified public-service vehicles

LTA applies higher Group 2 medical standards to Class 4, Class 5 and vocational drivers.

Current medical-frequency requirements include:

• Vocational licence holders aged 50 to 64: every two years
• Vocational licence holders aged 65 and older: annually until age 74
• Statutory upper age limit: 75 for Class 4, Class 5 and vocational driving licences

Vocational drivers turning 70, 73 and 74 must also undergo an additional on-road assessment, subject to the applicable vocational-licence category.

Why Are Standards Stricter for Vocational Drivers?

Vocational and heavy-vehicle drivers may:

• Drive for longer hours
• Carry passengers
• Operate larger vehicles
• Have greater stopping distances
• Spend more time in heavy traffic
• Drive at night
• Have professional responsibility for public safety

LTA therefore classifies them under Group 2, for which higher medical standards are applied.

Drivers with Eye Disease at Any Age

A person does not need to wait until age 65 to obtain medical certification.

Traffic Police states that drivers of all ages with a condition or disability affecting their fitness or ability to drive must obtain certification from a Singapore-registered medical practitioner.

Relevant eye conditions may include:

• Advanced glaucoma
• Significant visual-field loss
• Monocular vision
• Double vision
• Night blindness
• Progressive retinal disease
• Unexplained reduced vision
• Neurological visual loss

Traffic Police may require examination at a government hospital or specialist institution when there is reason to believe that a motorist’s disease or physical ability may make the driver a danger to others. The licence may be revoked if the required assessment is not passed.

What Happens During a Fitness-to-Drive Eye Assessment?

The exact assessment depends on:

• Licence class
• Age
• Diagnosis
• Notification letter
• HMER requirements
• Traffic Police or LTA request

It may include:

• Unaided visual acuity
• Corrected visual acuity
• Refraction
• Colour vision
• Visual fields
• Pupil examination
• Eye alignment
• Contrast sensitivity
• Slit-lamp examination
• Dilated retinal examination
• OCT
• Review of previous treatment
• Functional driving assessment

Why Is Each Eye Tested Separately?

Binocular vision can conceal poor vision in one eye.

Testing each eye separately identifies:

• Amblyopia
• Cataract
• Macular disease
• Optic-nerve disease
• Retinal disease
• Unequal refractive error

The binocular result is also relevant because it represents how the person normally drives.

Why Is the Visual Field Sometimes Required?

A visual-field test may be requested when there is:

• Glaucoma
• Stroke
• Optic-nerve disease
• Retinal detachment
• Retinal laser treatment
• Neurological disease
• Suspicious field loss
• Advanced diabetic retinopathy

What Should an Ophthalmologist’s Memo Include?

A useful specialist memo may state:

• Diagnosis
• Date of onset
• Whether the condition is stable
• Best-corrected vision in each eye
• Binocular vision where relevant
• Refractive correction required
• Colour-vision findings
• Visual-field findings
• Presence or absence of double vision
• Relevant ocular treatment
• Prognosis
• Recommended review interval
• Whether the doctor considers the patient medically fit to drive the requested class
• Any recommended restrictions or further assessment

The memo should identify the licence class because different medical standards apply to Group 1 and Group 2.

Occupational-Therapy Driving Assessment

A driver may be referred for an additional functional driving assessment when clinic tests do not fully answer whether the person can drive safely.

The assessment may examine:

• Vehicle control
• Observation
• Lane positioning
• Hazard response
• Junction handling
• Compensatory head movements
• Use of vehicle modifications
• Cognitive and physical function

Traffic Police states that referral for such an assessment must come from a Singapore-registered medical practitioner.

Common Myths

“I Can Read the Smallest Line, So I Am Definitely Safe to Drive”

False.

Visual field, contrast, glare, attention and eye coordination also matter.

“Everyone Must Have 6/6 Vision”

False.

Singapore’s public statutory standard is expressed as a functional 25-metre registration-character test rather than one universal 6/6 requirement.

“I Cannot Wear Glasses for the Driving Test”

False.

Spectacles and contact lenses may be used.

“Failing Ishihara Automatically Means I Cannot Drive”

Not necessarily.

The statutory colour requirement concerns distinguishing red, amber and green.

“Colour-Deficient People Cannot Recognise Traffic Lights”

Usually false.

Many use colour, signal position, brightness and context successfully.

The required functional standard must nevertheless be met.

“If One Eye Is Good, the Other Eye Does Not Matter”

False.

The cause, visual field, adaptation and licence class remain relevant.

“Glaucoma Is Not a Driving Problem Until Central Vision Is Blurred”

False.

Glaucoma may cause substantial peripheral-field loss while central acuity remains good.

“A Normal Eye-Pressure Reading Means Glaucoma Cannot Affect Driving”

False.

Driving ability depends on existing visual-field damage, not one pressure measurement.

“Cataract Only Causes Blur”

False.

It may cause severe glare and loss of contrast despite reasonable chart acuity.

“There Is a Mandatory Night-Blindness Test for Every Applicant”

False.

Singapore does not currently include a routine night-blindness test, although significantly impairing night blindness must be declared.

“Once I Have Passed the Eyesight Test, I Never Need Another Eye Examination”

False.

Eye disease can develop after the licence is issued.

“Drivers Younger Than 65 Never Need Medical Certification”

False.

The requirement applies at any age when a medical condition or disability may affect safe driving.

“Laser Eye Surgery Permanently Guarantees Driving Vision”

False.

Vision can later change because of:

• Regression
• Dry eye
• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Retinal disease
• Presbyopia

“Cataract Surgery Automatically Makes Me Fit to Drive the Next Day”

False.

Recovery and visual function vary.

“A Field Test Alone Can Prove That Someone Is a Safe Driver”

False.

Research shows considerable individual variation and supports combining clinical testing with functional assessment when necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is the Eyesight Test Performed?

For a new Provisional Driving Licence, it is performed at one of Singapore’s three driving centres when the applicant registers to book the theory test.

Should I Wear My Glasses?

Yes, when you require them for clear distance vision.

Can I Use Contact Lenses Instead?

Yes.

Bring spectacles as backup.

What if I Fail the Eyesight Test?

Arrange an eye examination to identify whether the cause is:

• An outdated prescription
• Cataract
• Amblyopia
• Corneal disease
• Retinal disease
• Optic-nerve disease
• Another condition

A simple refractive error may be corrected before the test is repeated.

What if One Eye Fails but the Other Eye Sees Well?

A comprehensive assessment may be required.

Do not assume that the better eye automatically satisfies every licence-class requirement.

Do I Need a Colour-Vision Specialist Report?

It may be useful when:

• The initial colour screening is failed.
• The person can identify actual signal colours.
• A congenital deficiency is suspected.
• Acquired colour loss must be excluded.
• Traffic Police or the examining doctor requests clarification.

Can I Drive with Amblyopia?

Some adults with amblyopia drive safely because the condition has been stable since childhood and the other eye functions well.

Fitness depends on:

• Remaining vision
• Fields
• Stability
• Licence class
• Medical assessment

Can I Drive with Glaucoma?

Many patients with early or well-controlled glaucoma continue driving.

Advanced bilateral field loss may make driving unsafe even when central acuity remains good.

Can I Drive After a Glaucoma Operation?

Resume only when:

• The surgeon permits it.
• Vision is stable.
• Eye pressure and inflammation are controlled.
• There is no significant blur or double vision.
• Any required glasses are available.

Can I Drive with Cataract in One Eye?

Possibly, depending on:

• Vision in both eyes
• Glare
• Contrast
• Depth perception
• Licence class
• Functional ability

A person who struggles at night should avoid night driving until assessed.

Can I Drive Between First- and Second-Eye Cataract Surgery?

Some patients can.

Others experience:

• Unequal image size
• Imbalance between the eyes
• Double vision
• Reduced depth judgement
• Glare from the unoperated eye

The surgeon should advise based on the individual result.

Can I Drive with Macular Degeneration?

It depends on:

• Central acuity
• Distortion
• Contrast
• Stability
• Licence requirements

An Amsler grid does not determine fitness to drive.

Can I Drive with Floaters?

Ordinary stable floaters usually do not prevent driving.

A sudden shower of floaters, flashes or a curtain requires urgent assessment.

Can I Drive with Double Vision if I Close One Eye?

Do not adopt this solution without medical assessment.

Occlusion removes double vision but converts the person to monocular viewing and may alter the field.

Does Wearing an Eye Patch Affect Driving?

Yes.

It removes binocular vision and may reduce peripheral awareness on that side.

Can I Drive After Pupil Dilation?

It is safer to arrange alternative transport because glare and blur vary unpredictably.

Can I Drive After an Intravitreal Injection?

Many patients can drive after recovery, but dilation, antiseptic ointment, transient blur, floaters or discomfort may interfere with vision on the day.

Follow the treating doctor’s instructions.

Can I Drive After Retinal Laser?

Vision may be temporarily affected by:

• Dilation
• Glare
• After-images
• Blur

Do not drive until vision is comfortable and adequate.

Does Wearing Multifocal Contact Lenses Affect Driving?

Multifocal lenses may reduce contrast or produce halos in some wearers.

A person should establish satisfactory night vision before driving in demanding conditions.

Does a Driving Licence Require Perfect Depth Perception?

The published ordinary-driver requirements focus on distance character recognition and traffic-signal colour discrimination.

A significant binocular or monocular condition may nevertheless require individual medical assessment.

What Happens When I Turn 65?

Traffic Police should send a notification letter before the medical examination is due.

The examination is submitted digitally by the doctor through HMER.

How Often Must I Repeat the Examination?

For drivers aged 65 and older:

• Class 2 and Class 3 group: every three years
• Class 4 and Class 5 group: every year until age 74

Vocational drivers aged 50 to 64 generally undergo medical assessment every two years and annually from age 65.

Is There an Upper Age Limit for Driving a Car?

The published statutory upper age limit of 75 applies to Class 4, Class 5 and vocational drivers.

Ordinary Class 2 and Class 3 group drivers may continue when they meet the recurring medical requirements.

Warning Signs: Stop Driving and Seek Assessment

Do not continue driving when there is:

• Sudden loss of vision
• New double vision
• A curtain or shadow
• Sudden flashes and floaters
• Severe eye pain
• A red painful eye
• New central distortion
• A new field defect
• Sudden drooping eyelid with unequal pupils
• Severe headache with neurological symptoms
• Transient complete loss of vision
• Inability to recognise traffic lights
• Significant night blindness
• Vision that becomes unsafe despite glasses

These symptoms may indicate:

• Retinal detachment
• Retinal vascular occlusion
• Stroke
• Acute glaucoma
• Corneal infection
• Optic-nerve disease
• Macular disease
• Neurological disease

A Driver’s Eye-Health Checklist

Before Driving

• Is distance vision clear?
• Are both eyes comfortable?
• Are spectacles clean?
• Are contact lenses properly positioned?
• Is there double vision?
• Is glare unusually severe?
• Can road signs be read at a safe distance?
• Is a backup pair of glasses available?

Arrange an Eye Examination When

• Signs appear blurred.
• Night driving becomes difficult.
• Headlights cause prolonged glare.
• One eye sees worse.
• The prescription changes frequently.
• Colours appear different between the eyes.
• Peripheral objects are missed.
• A family member notices unsafe driving.
• There is glaucoma, diabetes or macular disease.
• The licence medical assessment is due.

Bring to a Fitness-to-Drive Assessment

• Notification letter
• Driving-licence details and classes
• Current spectacles
• Contact-lens information
• Previous eye reports
• Visual-field results
• Medication list
• Surgical history
• Relevant neurological or medical reports
• Details of previous accidents or driving difficulties

Questions to Ask the Ophthalmologist

• What is my best-corrected vision in each eye?
• Is my binocular vision adequate?
• Is my visual field affected?
• Is the condition stable?
• Do I need an Esterman field test?
• Does glare or contrast loss affect safety?
• Must I wear glasses whenever driving?
• Should I avoid night driving?
• Do I need a specialist memo?
• Is an on-road assessment appropriate?
• When should I be reviewed again?
• What symptoms require me to stop driving immediately?

The Bottom Line

Singapore’s published legal eyesight standard requires a driver to be able, with spectacles or contact lenses when used, to:

• Read six registration-style letters and figures at 25 metres
• Distinguish red, amber and green at 25 metres

Applicants for a Provisional Driving Licence must pass an eyesight and colour-vision test at a driving centre.

The minimum test does not evaluate every visual function required for safe driving.

Driving also depends on:

• Peripheral vision
• Contrast sensitivity
• Night vision
• Glare recovery
• Eye coordination
• Depth judgement
• Visual attention

Drivers with eye disease or another condition affecting fitness to drive may require certification at any age.

From age 65:

• Class 2 and Class 3 group drivers generally undergo medical assessment every three years.
• Class 4 and Class 5 group drivers undergo annual assessment and proficiency testing until age 74.

Vocational drivers undergo higher Group 2 standards, including medical examinations from age 50 and annual examinations from age 65.

Common conditions affecting driving include:

• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Visual-field loss
• Double vision
• Monocular vision
• Corneal disease
• Night blindness

The most important message is:

Passing a letter or number-plate test confirms that one minimum requirement has been met. It does not automatically prove that a person with significant eye disease can drive safely in traffic, rain, glare or darkness. Vision should be assessed according to the driver’s eye condition, licence class and real-world function.

References

1. Singapore Statutes Online. Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules, Rule 8: Prescribed diseases and disabilities. Current version accessed August 2026.
2. Singapore Statutes Online. Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules, Rule 22: Conditions for grant of provisional licence. Current version accessed August 2026.
3. Singapore Police Force. Provisional Driving Licence. Updated July 2026.
4. Singapore Police Force. Singapore Driving Licence: drivers aged 65 and above and drivers with special medical conditions. Updated 2026.
5. Land Transport Authority. Harmonised Medical Examination Report. Updated 2026.
6. Land Transport Authority and Traffic Police. More convenience for elderly vocational-licence drivers through streamlined medical-examination process. 2026.
7. Ministry of Home Affairs. Night blindness test or declaration as requirements to obtain a driving licence. 14 October 2025.
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