Oregon – Driving with Vision Problems

A person otherwise eligible for Oregon driving privileges whose vision meets the following criteria:

Visual acuity in the better eye with best lens correction that is no better than 20/80 and no worse than 20/200;

Has no ocular diagnosis or prognosis that may result in deterioration of the person’s corrected vision below a 20/200 level of visual acuity;

Has a visual field of at least 120 degrees horizontally and 80 degrees vertically; and

Would be aided by using a bioptic telescopic lens when operating a motor vehicle.

A regular (Non-Commercial Class C) driver license (or instruction permit) with the following restrictions:

Driving during daylight hours only; and
riving only when the person is using a bioptic telescopic lens.

The person must complete the following steps:

Be examined by a vision specialist who completes a report to DMV showing the person’s vision meets the criteria to be licensed under this program;

Be fitted by a licensed vision specialist with a bioptic telescopic lens mounted on the carrier lens;

Enroll in a rehabilitation training program offered by a specialist certified by DMV to train low vision condition persons in the use of bioptic telescopic lens while driving;

Pass DMV’s written knowledge test;

Be issued by DMV a special limited vision condition learner’s permit to be used during driver training;

Submit to DMV a certificate issued by a rehabilitation training specialist certifying that the person has successfully completed a rehabilitation training program;

Pass a DMV-provided drive test

Oregon Drivers Education Requirements

Oregon takes the requirements necessary in order to obtain a driver’s license one step further than many other states. In addition to driver’s education and mandatory driving experience hours, those under the age of 18 must also be enrolled in school, or show a good reason why they are not (e.g. early completion or exemption). The state does not require driver’s education in order to receive a learner’s permit, but it is a wise idea and many high schools offer it as an elective course.

However, if you do not attend driver’s education, you must log at least a minimum of 50 additional hours of supervised driving with your parent or legal guardian. This is not including the 50 hours that is required automatically; it is in addition to this number. That means if you do not take driver’s education, your parent or legal guardian needs to be prepared to ride with you for at least 100 supervised hours. You must be at least 15 years old before you can apply for a learner’s permit in the state of Oregon.

While you have a learner’s permit, you may not have anyone younger than 20 years old in the car with you while you are driving unless that person is a member of your immediate family. There are also time restrictions placed on those who are driving with a learner’s permit and a few exceptions to the time rules. The restrictions do not apply if you are driving with a licensed parent, stepparent, legal guardian, or state-approved driving instructor.

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