Ariz. Admin. Code § 17-4-503

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R17-4-503 - Vision Standards

A. Definitions.

1. "Binocular vision" means the ability to see in both eyes.

2. "Bioptic telescopic lens system" means a bioptic, spectacle-mounted corrective lens prescribed by a physician or optometrist for meeting vision acuity requirements for driving that uses magnification as the main method of obtaining minimal visual acuity.

3. "Corrected visual acuity" means distance vision corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, or a bioptic telescopic lens system.

4. "Corrective lens" means eyeglasses, contact lenses, or a bioptic telescopic lens system used to correct distance vision.

5. "Diplopia" means double vision.

6. "Impaired night vision" means below normal ability to see in reduced light.

7. "Monocular vision" means the ability to see in one eye only.

8. "Optometrist" means a person licensed to practice optometry in any state, territory, or possession of the United States or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

9. "Retinitis pigmentosa" means a chronic progressive inflammation of the retina with atrophy and pigmentary infiltration of the inner layers of the retina.

10. "Snellen Chart" means a chart imprinted with lines of black letters of decreasing size for testing visual acuity.

11. "Visual acuity" means the clarity of a person's vision.

12. "Visual field" means the area in which objects may be seen when the eye is fixed.

B. Standard. The following applies only to class D, G, or M applicants or licensees.

1. Visual acuity. A person shall have binocular or monocular vision and visual acuity of 20/40 in at least one eye.

a. The Department shall not license a person with monocular vision and visual acuity of 20/50 or greater.

b. The Department shall not license a person with binocular vision and visual acuity of 20/70 or greater.

2. Visual field. Field of vision shall be 70 degrees or greater temporally, and 35 degrees or greater nasally, in at least one eye.

C. Restrictions.

1. A person with corrected vision shall wear corrective lenses at all times when driving if the corrective lens is required to achieve the vision standards in subsection (B).

2. The Department shall restrict a person with diagnosed impaired night vision to daytime driving only.

3. The Department shall restrict a person with binocular vision and corrected or uncorrected visual acuity of 20/50 or 20/ 60, when using both eyes, to daytime driving only.

D. Screening process.

1. The Department, a physician, or an optometrist may administer visual acuity and visual field screening through the use of visual screening equipment or the Snellen Chart to determine if a person's visual acuity meets minimum standards and through the use of visual screening equipment to determine if a person's visual field meets minimum standards.

2. A person may use a bioptic telescopic lens system during vision screening.

a. Beginning on the date of an initial application and every year thereafter, a person using a bioptic telescopic lens system shall submit to the Department an annual exam performed by a physician or optometrist to ascertain whether the person has a progressive eye disease.

b. The Department shall not license a person using a bioptic telescopic lens system unless the person submits to the Department a vision examination form provided by the Department and completed by a physician or an optometrist indicating that the individual meets the visual acuity standard as prescribed in subsection (B).

c. The Department shall not license a person using a bioptic telescopic lens system with magnification of the lens that is more than 4X.

E. Reporting requirements.

1. A person choosing to have initial visual acuity and visual field screening done by a physician or an optometrist shall submit the results to the Department.

2. If the Department does initial visual acuity and visual field screening and the person does not meet vision standards of subsection (B), the Department shall require the person to submit the results of the person's visual acuity and visual field screening by a physician or an optometrist.

3. The Department shall require a person diagnosed with any of the following conditions to file the results of the person's visual acuity and visual field screening completed by the physician or optometrist:

a. Any progressive eye disease,

b. Diplopia, or

c. Impaired night vision.

F. Results of visual acuity and visual field screening from a physician or optometrist shall contain the following.

1. An examination date no more than three months before the submission date to the Department;

2. Visual acuity and visual field;

3. If applicable, specification that the person is monocular;

4. If applicable, diagnosis of any condition described in subsection (E)(3);

5. Any recommendations on frequency of reporting requirements for the person, in addition to those required by the Department;

6. Suggested restrictions on driving, in addition to those required by the Department; and

7. Any recommendations on the person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

G. The Department shall require a driving test if a person's eye disease is determined by a physician or optometrist to be progressive.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R17-4-503

New Section recodified from R17-4-521at 7 A.A.R. 3479, effective July 20, 2001 (Supp. 01-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 221, effective January 10, 2006 (Supp. 06-1). Amended by final expedited rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 3147, effective 12/3/2020.