Section 1340-01-13-.10 - VISION STANDARDS(1) Applicants for commercial driver licenses shall pass a vision test with the minimum qualifications as specified in 49 C.F.R. §391(1989) unless they are exempted from meeting federal physical and mental standards by 1340-1-13-.09. If exempt, they shall meet the general vision standards set forth below.(2) Operators of non-commercial vehicles shall pass the general vision requirements if their visual acuity is at least 20/40 (Snellen) or better, each eye separately, and both eyes together.(3) Applicants for either commercial or non-commercial licenses who fail to meet the applicable vision screening requirements shall be provided an eye specialist form to be completed by a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist of their choice.(4) Applicants for non-commercial licenses who present a completed eye specialist form shall pass the vision tests under the following conditions: (a) Applicants with 20/60 (Snellen) or better, each eye separately and both eyes together, shall pass with or without corrective lenses. These applicants shall be restricted to driving motor vehicles with both left and right outside rear-view mirrors.(b) Applicants with 20/40 (Snellen) or better, one eye (other eye 20/60 to blind), shall pass with or without corrective lenses. These applicants shall be restricted to driving motor vehicles with both left and right outside rear-view mirrors.(5) Applicants able to meet the vision standards only with corrective lenses shall be restricted to operating motor vehicles only when such lenses are worn. SUMMARY
| Visual Acuity | Restrictions |
| 20/40 or better - -right eye and left eye | None (unless corrective lenses are needed to achieve visual acuity) |
| 20/40 or better one eye 20/60 to blind other eye | * Corrective lenses (if applicable) Outside rear-view mirrors |
| 20/60 or better - -right eye and left eye | * Corrective lenses (if applicable) Outside rear-view mirrors |
*NOTE: These persons shall be required to supply the eye statement provided by the Department and completed by a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist.
Applicants failing to meet any of the above standards shall be failed
(6) Low Vision Guidelines (Bioptic Lens and/or Telescopic Lens Wearer). Applicants for Class D, PD, or H licenses who are handicapped by low vision acuity, but who otherwise qualify for a driving privilege may be licensed under the following guidelines:(a) Qualifications: 1. The applicant shall have acceptable mobility.(i) Other than vision, the applicant shall not be impaired in the movement of the eyes, head or neck,2. The applicant shall be free of all mental impairments.3. Prior to application, the bioptic wearer shall complete training in driving with a bioptic telescopic lens(es) from a driving instructor certified in this field.(b) Requirements: 1. The applicant shall have a visual acuity of at least 20/200 with the best conventional non-telescopic corrective lens(es), and a full visual field.(i) The central field vision loss shall not exceed five (5) degrees.2. The applicant's visual acuity with the bioptic telescope shall be at least 20/60. (i) The power of the bioptic telescope shall not exceed four power (4x).(ii) The bioptic telescopic lens(es) may be fit either monocularly or binocularly, but shall be located superior to the normal line of gaze.3. The applicant shall have a horizontal visual field diameter of no less. than one hundred fifty (150) degrees without the use of field expanders.4. The applicant shall present certification of having completed training in the use of a bioptic telescope for driving purposes. (i) This certification shall be obtained from an optometrist or ophthalmologist identified by a recognized professional organization as one especially qualified in the field of Low Vision care or,(ii) from a Certified Rehabilitation Person.5. The applicant shall present certification of having completed a certified driver education course. This course must have been completed while the applicant was wearing the bioptic telescopic lens(es).6. The applicant shall present a report from the Low Vision specialist on a form supplied by the Department which contains the following information: (i) Patient's vital data;(ii) Date the system was dispensed;(iii) Complete information regarding the visual requirements outlined above;(iv) Diagnosis of the visual condition and an apparent date of onset; and(v) A statement concerning the stability of the condition (progressive, stable, or undetermined).7. This report shall not be written until the applicant has used the system at least sixty (60) days, and shall have been conducted within six (6) months of the date of the application.8. From the initial report date, the applicant shall re-submit annually an updated report.(i) if there has been a change in stability, a re-examination may be required. (c) Types of restrictions: 1. Listed below are restrictions that may or may not be required. Restrictions shall not be limited to the following, but shall include any other restriction deemed necessary by the doctor of the licensee or the advisory board for low vision acuity. (i) Daylight driving only(ii) Fifty (50) m.p.h. maximum speed(iii) Outside rear-view mirrors (left/right)(iv) Certain area and time restrictions(I) Occasionally because of a visual defect and its observed affect on the driving performance, restriction may be necessary to a certain area or time.(v) No interstate driving2. Basic training requirements: (i) The minimum training requirements for wearers of bioptic telescope lens(es) shall include the following: (I) Locating stationary objects within the telescopic field of view, by aligning the object directly next to the telescopic lens(es), and then moving his/her head and his/her eyes simultaneously to see the object with the telescope.(II) Locating a moving object in a large field of vision by anticipating future movement, so that by moving his/her head and eyes in a coordinated fashion he/she can locate the moving object within the telescopic field.(III) Training in brief visual exposure with the deviation of exposure diminished constantly to simulate short-looking time while driving.(IV) Experiencing riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle and also walking, so that he/she has actually experienced moving while objects are changing position.(ii) Training in the use of bioptic-telescopic lens(es) does not entitle the wearer to a driver license. It only assists him/her to qualify on the vision portion of the testing.(7) The vision standards in this rule applicable to non-commercial driver license shall also apply to applicants for and holders of temporary driver licenses.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-01-13-.10
Original rule filed April 8, 1996; effective August 28, 1996. Amendment filed July 27, 2004; effective November 26, 2004. Public necessity rule filed September 24, 2007, effective through March 7, 2008. Public necessity rule filed September 24, 2007, expired March 8, 2008. Public necessity rule filed March 11, 2008, effective through August 23, 2008. Amendment filed December 3, 2007; effective April 29, 2008.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 55-50-202, 55-50-322, 55-50-331, 55-50-410, Public Chapter No. 194, 2007, Public Acts of 2004; Chapter 778, and 49 C.F.R. §391.41(1989).