“Am I allowed to drive with my vision?” is a question that worries many people — those whose sight has declined with age, those who see with one eye, and those diagnosed with an eye disease. Driving has defined vision requirements in Israel, and the answer is usually less frightening than it seems. This page explains the requirements for a private and a professional licence, the rules for driving with one eye, and who decides.
Vision requirements for a private licence
A private driving licence (private passenger car and two-wheeler) has two main requirements: visual acuity of at least 6/12 in at least one eye, and a horizontal visual field of at least 120 degrees (about 60 degrees to each side of the centre of gaze). Acuity of 6/12 means you see from 6 metres what a person with normal vision sees from 12 — a threshold that allows safe function in everyday driving. The requirement can be met with correction, too: glasses or contact lenses. In that case the licence notes that a corrective aid must be worn while driving.
Driving with one eye
This is one of the most common questions, and the answer surprises many: for a private licence, driving with one seeing eye is permitted, as long as that eye meets the acuity and visual-field requirements. The reason is that the private threshold is defined as “in at least one eye.” That said, vision in one eye affects depth perception, and an adjustment period is usually needed until the brain learns to judge distances by other means. An important distinction: the driving aspect is entirely separate from the disability-rating aspect of blindness in one eye, which is covered in blindness in one eye and disability rating. For a professional licence, by contrast, normal vision in both eyes is required — so one eye alone is not enough.
Professional and commercial licences — stricter requirements
Professional driving — heavy trucks, buses, taxis and public vehicles — has higher requirements, because it involves responsibility for passengers and many hours on the road. Typically it requires visual acuity of 6/12 in each eye separately (and in some cases 6/9 in one eye and 6/12 in the other), a visual field of at least 140 degrees, and normal vision in both eyes. Someone who does not meet the professional threshold may still be fit for a private licence.
Why the visual field matters as much as acuity
It is easy to think that vision for driving is only “how well you read the number chart,” but the visual field — how wide you take in from the sides without moving your eyes — matters just as much. It is what lets you notice a pedestrian entering from the side, an approaching vehicle, or a traffic light in the periphery. Diseases such as glaucoma, retinal damage or a stroke can narrow the visual field even when central acuity is still good, so a restricted field may affect fitness to drive. On how it is measured and what it means, see visual field loss.
Who decides — the Medical Institute for Road Safety
It is important to understand the division of roles: the ophthalmologist examines and documents the state of the vision — acuity, visual field and eye health — but the body that decides on fitness to drive and its conditions is the Medical Institute for Road Safety, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport. In clear cases the process is simple; in borderline or complex situations — such as glaucoma, visual-field damage or vision in one eye — the institute may require further tests and set conditions or restrictions. Orderly, accurate medical documentation is what allows the institute to assess the situation correctly.
What this means for you
If your sight has declined, if you see with one eye, or if you have been diagnosed with an eye disease and are worried about driving — the right step is an examination that shows exactly where you stand relative to the requirements. An orderly examination of visual acuity, visual field and eye health both answers the practical question and creates the documentation needed later. Prof. Michael Mimouni is a specialist in the cornea and ocular surface, and an examination can clarify the full picture. For someone whose vision has been impaired over time, the question of a disability rating may also be relevant — see eye disability assessment. Get in touch to arrange an examination.
The information on this page is general and not a substitute for an examination, personal medical advice, or a determination by an authorized body. Fitness-to-drive requirements are set by the Ministry of Transport and the Medical Institute for Road Safety and may be updated from time to time.
Frequently asked questions
What visual acuity is needed for a private driving licence?
The current requirement is visual acuity of at least 6/12 in at least one eye (with glasses or contact-lens correction, if needed), and a horizontal visual field of at least 120 degrees. That is the threshold for a private licence; a professional licence has stricter requirements.
Is it allowed to drive with one eye?
For a private licence — yes, provided the seeing eye meets the acuity and visual-field requirements. Driving with one eye affects depth perception, and there is usually an adjustment period. For a professional licence, by contrast, normal vision in both eyes is required, so one eye alone is not enough.
Do glasses or contact lenses disqualify you from driving?
No. The requirements can be met with optical correction — glasses or contact lenses — and this is standard. In that case the licence notes that a corrective aid must be worn while driving. What counts is the corrected visual acuity, not the prescription itself.
Who decides in a borderline case?
The authorized body is the Medical Institute for Road Safety, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport. The ophthalmologist examines and documents the state of the vision — acuity, visual field and eye condition — and the institute determines fitness to drive and its conditions, especially in complex situations such as glaucoma or visual-field damage.
