18/06/2026
Could you read a number plate from 20 metres away? Be honest.
A new survey of 2,000 UK drivers found nearly half think they'd fail that exact test — and over half had no idea that reporting vision changes to the DVLA is a legal requirement. The Association of Optometrists says the whole system is "in desperate need of reform."
Here's the thing about eyesight: it doesn't disappear overnight. It fades a bit at a time, so slowly you stop noticing what you've lost — until someone else points out the number plate you can't read, or you realise you've been driving home from work in a blur every winter for years.
The fix for that part is easy. Book a sight test.
The trickier part is glare. That moment headlights hit you and the road disappears for a few seconds — that's not something a standard eye test solves. We fit Hoya EnRoute lenses, built specifically to cut glare and sharpen contrast at night. If driving in the dark has started to feel like a gamble, come see us.
Book your eye exam: https://www.stirlingopticians.com
Driving lenses: https://www.stirlingopticians.com/driving
Lenses designed to reduce glare for driving
