Hi,

I am coming up to 1 year in Switzerland so need to get my Swiss License sorted ASAP.

I would like to understand more about what the Swiss DL eyesight requirements are and determine if you think I should get my eyes retested because I went for an eye test on Friday.

I passed but was told my eyesight was not good enough to retain Category D1E - this seems to be towing a trailer behind a minibus, something I have never done and probably never will. But I feel like I should defend this right...

My eyes are an odd case - poor detail vision in left eye, perfect right eye/-1/-0.5 depending where I go. I have previously received a +1 left eye, -0.5 right eye prescription but have never needed glasses for driving.

I went for my eye test at 5pm on Friday, and I was tired. The eye test then seemed to be performed in the dark. Very poor light in any case. This was in the back of the glasses shop on ground floor in Sihl City. I then struggled initially because I didn't reaslise I was looking for numbers..... I was looking for letters! Could the loss of category D1E be down to non-performance of my left eye therefore unavoidable?

So my options are:

1. Do nothing and send off form to wherever it goes
2. Get my eyes retested at the same place after a good sleep
3. Get my eyes retested at the same place after a good sleep and wear the contact lenses I have somewhere to tweak my eyes as much as possible.
4. Go somewhere else and try to get my eyes tested in daylight, and look out for numbers instead of letters!

What do you think?

Thanks,

Andy

If in doubt just get another test (4). Otherwise, let all those dreams you had of driving a mini-bus with a trailer go...

If, for driving, you require some sort of correction for your eyesight, then face facts and organise that first, then get the required confirmation for the driving licence application form.
Incidentally, your new driving license will then be marked with a code stating that you require eye correction for driving and you will be obliged to carry a spare pair of glasses etc. when driving: http://www.rac.co.uk/driving-abroad/switzerland

I vote for no. 4.

I'd opt for #4 personally

The eye test is like an IQ test, once you know what the scam is (moving dots, etc.) you'll perform better the next time.

Why would you even care about D1E if you never used it and have no intention ever to?

Here are all the driving licence categories together with the vision requirements for each category (listed under medical requirements):
(D/F/I: ) http://www.fuehrerausweise.ch/asa-se...head=1&canton=

Most categories have their own special requirements regarding vision. Category D (bus > 16 seats) has the highest requirements, eliminating even people who have good vision with correction, if the correction required exceeds a certain level.

If your current driving licence is for a car, it would only act anyway as a provisional licence for lorries (>3.5 tons) and large passenger vehicles (>8 seats) so unless you are taking up a career in the transport industry, it should not affect you.

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Well even for C1 D1 the requirement is 80% (20/25) vision in both eyes or 100% (20/20) in 1 eye & 60 % (20/39) in the other. That's WITH correction!

If you took a uk license long enough ago Lorraine's up to 7.5 tonnes were included.

Where is the licence marked?

I can't help but read this thread as "I can't see properly to drive a minibus and trailer but I wan't to drive one without being able to see properly anyway".

The codes are listed here: http://www.lepermisdeconduire.ch/asa...head=1&canton=
01 or 01.0X are related to vision impairment.
I also don't believe that the safety of other road users is enhanced by people shopping around for professionals who are prepared to 'turn a blind eye' to vision defects.

Thanks. I see the "01" on the back of my licence for corrected vision, and "70" for conversion from foreign licence.

I don't have D1E on mine and I remember at the time that I had to drop some categories to avoid having a medical. I do have D1 though, but it's restricted to 3.5t so maybe that's why I don't need a medical for that.

me.anon,

This is precisely what I am looking for, thanks.

Urs Max - I took the time to write a post which I thought might lead to information which could benefit me and others. That is the clue , the breadcrumb if you will, that points to the fact that for whatever reason, I do care. For that reason, I was unlikely to find dismissal of my query helpful.

IMO results of an Eye test depends a lot on the equipment that the optician is using.
I got way different results with different opticians.
The 1st one had a mirror on the wall and a projector, which was quite crappy as the letters were pretty much out of focus and showed poor contrast. Later I went to a real eye doctor, and the results were as intended.

I believe it is reasonable to seek a second opinion!

Of course, the catch is that on the road, the light and contrast are not always good either. Dark clothes on a pedestrian crossing? Things are not in focus when you turn your head (try the combination of increasing age plus varifocals and astigmatism). Why do so many drivers miss seeing motor bikes? Or small children?
I can get quite good results in an eye test when I can work partly by simple elimination - what might that letter/number be? But try me in rain in the dark and you'll be glad that I don't drive any more.

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Longbyt

The test performed in bright light is a joke as the iris is stopped down, eye tests should be done in very low light as the prescription would be more accurate. Try focusing a lens stopped down & there is more wiggle room