Bioptic Telescope Glasses For Driving in California

In 1970, Dennis Kelleher was a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. He had low vision as a result of albinism and had been told throughout his life that he would never drive.

Dennis connected with Dr. Edwin Mehr, the director of the Low Vision Clinic at UC Berkeley’s School of Optometry. Dr. Mehr asked Dennis what he would most like to be able to do, but was unable to do because of his low vision conditions of Albinism and Nystagmus. Dennis’s greatest desire was to drive.

With his normal best corrected vision, Dennis failed the DMV vision screening exam when he was not able to see any letters on the California DMV vision screening test. He had lost hope he would ever be able to drive.

Dr. Mehr did a low vision evaluation with Dennis. When Dr. Mehr placed a Designs for Vision 3.0X Galilean bioptic telescope into the trial frame, Dennis proceeded to read all but two letters on the 20/30 line of the chart. With the bioptic glasses he was able to see the California DMV screening requirement of vision better than 20/40.

This was a very good sign. At this point in time, no individuals in the state of California were licensed to drive with the use of bioptic glasses, but there were some drivers in Massachusetts and New York who passed the state driving requirements while wearing bioptic telescopic glasses.

After corresponding with the DMV and undergoing the required tests to determine his visual acuity while wearing bioptic lenses, Dennis was given a learner’s permit. He diligently practiced driving under the direction of a driving instructor for a number of weeks.

On March 8, 1971, Dennis Kelleher passed his driving exam after demonstrating that he could drive safely while wearing bioptics. This was the first time a driver with bioptic glasses was licensed in the state of California. This freedom to drive opened up many opportunities to Dennis that may have otherwise been limited. Since 1971, hundreds of individuals with low vision in California have also passed their driving exams with the help of bioptic glasses.

After receiving his California driver’s license, Dennis was hired as a teacher in Yolo County,
a rural area just north of the Greater Sacramento Area, where there was no public transportation. Without a driver’s license, he would not have been able to get and do this job. Later he estimated he had driven an average of approximately 24,000 miles per year for the past 38 ½ years since becoming licensed, for a total of 924,000 miles. This mileage for both employment and pleasure included driving during both daylight and night in urban, suburban, rural, freeway, residential streets and mountain roads settings in sunny, cloudy, rainy, foggy and snowy weather.

Dennis stated: “I believe it is fair to state that I have compiled a superior driving record when compared with the average California driver. I believe this demonstrates that persons can drive safely using a bioptic and do not pose an unreasonably high risk to the general population.”

( Source: http://www.biopticdrivingusa.com/becoming-the-first-licensed-bi/)

If you have questions about bioptic driving with low vision in California, give Dr. Ashcraft a call at 800-345-9719. He offers a free, complementary telephone consultation to discuss your personal situation. This number is available 24 hours a day.