taking my driving test soon (UK) but dont think i can read number plates from 20 meters away?

Question

In the uk they give you an quick eye test just at the start of the practical driving test (cars) by making you stand about 20 meters away from a parked car and reading its number plate. I really don't think I can read it from that distance, I can read them about 4-5 cars lengths away max. In any case i'd rather not take the risk of losing my test fee before the test even properly starts (it will be soon as well)

My eyesight isnt terrible its just after certain distance I have trouble idetifying letters like a G might look like an 8 to me or vice versa. things dont appear completely in focus. The eye clinic said my cornea is curved making this happen and its called kerocantus.

I went to the eye clinic about six months ago and they said i have this rare condition called kerocanotus (spelling?) and its a progressive condition. What are my options? will just wearing glasses work? or contact lenses? Never worn either before so I dont really know?

Answer 1

Keratoconus, or a conical cornea. As the name suggests, it is a cone shaped rather than a curved cornea. Not really a rare condition, but varies from country to country.
Initially, you should do just fine with glasses. If the condition progresses, hard contact lenses are next step and they are good. As a final resort, you may need a cornea transplant, which has an excellent success rate for this particular condition. In the last few years, special rings have been inserted into the cornea to STABILIZE the condition, but I would suggest to wait for some time to establish the real benefit of these rings. For the time being, glasses are your safest option. I don't think the examiner need to know about your condition, he only needs to make sure that you see the reg. plates with glasses.

Answer 2

Go outside to the road, walk 20 paces away from a car and see if you can read the plate to find out for yourself. Easy and hard are subjective terms. If you need sight correction then you must declare it when applying for a licence and you must use that sight correction to drive if you cannot see the plate at 20m. Anyone with properly corrected vision or good vision without correction will have no trouble reading a plate at 20m

Answer 3

Forget about the driving,I dont want you on the road with me,its not safe.there are enough bad drivers now without adding ones that cant see.Take the bus.

Answer 4

You can use glasses.
You can ask the eye doctor report, and give this report to the person who give the driving exams.

Good luck.