Eyeglass Restrictions on Your Ohio License

As an Ohio driver, you must first take a pre-temporary driver examination, which includes a vision screening. Ohio follows the recommendation and restriction for drivers established by the American Optometric Association, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vision is retested during license renewal every four years in Ohio. Certain vision restrictions apply to Ohio drivers.

No Restriction

• If you can have 20/40 visual acuity--a measurement of visual clarity or sharpness-- or better with both eyes without glasses, there are no vision restrictions on your driver's license in Ohio. However, if you only have vision in one eye, or monocular vision, you must see 20/30 or better without corrective lenses for a license without any vision restriction. If your vision is worse than 20/40 with both eyes, or 20/30 if you have monocular vision, your license will state that you are required to wear glasses or corrective lenses to drive.

Daylight Restriction

• If you test between 20/40 and 20/70, your license is restricted to driving during daytime driving. According to MDSupport.org, Ohio drivers with binocular acuity poorer than 20/40 but not worse than 20/70 are restricted to daylight driving. Daylight driving is also the only option for drivers with monocular vision poorer than 20/30 but not worse than 20/60.

License Denial

• If your vision is worse than 20/70 with corrective lenses, you will be denied a license. If a person has monocular vision, he must have a visual acuity no worse than 20/60.

Visual Field Restrictions

• Ohio drivers also have to pass visual field (VF) requirements. For a non-restrictive license, you must pass a test with 70 degrees of VF on both sides.

  Restrictive licenses are given for drivers with VF of 70 degrees or better in one eye if the other eye is 45 degrees or better, and the driver uses a special mounted mirror on the outside of the car to correct visual field to an acceptable level.

Telescopic Device Restrictions

• Ohio drivers using special telescopic vision tools are permitted to drive after completing a special exam at either the Ohio State University College of Optometry or the Vision Rehabilitation Center of Akron. Telescopic-aided drivers are required to work with a mobility instructor and are restricted to daylight driving the first year. After one year, the driver can apply for nighttime driving if she has not had any accidents or problems with daylight driving during the first year.