Driver's License

Medical/Vision Conditions

Notifying Our Office  |  Final Medical Report  |  Download the Medical Report Form  |  Worried About the Ability of Another Driver?  |  Vision Testing  |  Telescopic Lens Wearers  |  Nighttime Driving Privileges for Telescopic Lens Wearers

Notifying Our Office

By law, you are required to file a Medical Report Form, completed by your physician, if:

1. you have any medical or mental condition which could result in a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to safely drive a vehicle, or
2. you take any medications that may impair your ability to drive.

Each time you renew your Driver's License you must also resubmit the form.

It is your legal responsibility to notify our office within 10 days of becoming aware of any of these conditions. Failure to do so may lead to the cancellation of your driver's license and driving privileges.

Notification must be sent in writing to:

Secretary of State
Medical Review Unit
2701 S. Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 62723

Back to Top

Final Medical Report

If the particular medical condition no longer exists, you must still submit a final Medical Report Form completed by your physician indicating the condition no longer exists, in order to be removed from the follow-up program with this office. This Medical Report Form must be sent to:

Secretary of State
Medical Review Unit
2701 S. Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 62723

Back to Top

Worried About the Ability of Another Driver?

In order to protect the rights of all persons, the Secretary of State's office is only authorized to investigate potential medical conditions when reported to us by a licensed physician, member of law enforcement, or member of the judicial system.

If you have a friend or relative whom you feel could jeopardize traffic safety as the result of a medical condition, you should contact the individual's doctor or a police officer and request that they ask our office to investigate.

Options available are partial or complete re-testing, restrictions to driving privileges or complete cancellation of driving privileges.

Back to Top

Vision Testing

You may submit a Vision Specialist Report completed by a licensed optometrist, ophthalmologist or physician, instead of an in-person vision screening at a facility.

Visual reading requirements are as follows:

• The minimum requirement for visual acuity is 20/40 acuity with or without corrective lenses. Drivers with acuity between 20/41 and 20/70 are limited to daylight driving only.
• You must have at least 140 degree peripheral vision (the ability to see to the side) to have a license without restrictions. This is with or without corrective lenses.
• If you wear telescopic lenses, you must meet special requirements and undergo additional testing to receive your license.

You should take the completed Vision Specialist Report form (DSD X-20.8), completed on front and back, with you to your local Driver Services Facility when you renew.

This information is also available in the Rules of the Road.

Back to Top

Telescopic Lens Wearers

Driver's licenses may be awarded to some telescopic lens wearers for daylight driving.

These are the requirements to apply:

• your acuity readings through the carrier lenses must be 20/100 or better in both eyes;
• acuity readings through the lenses must be 20/40 or better in both eyes;
• peripheral readings must be 140 degrees binocular or 70 degrees temporal and 35 degrees nasal monocular;
• you must be fitted for a prescription spectacle mounted telescopic lens arrangement and have had the arrangement in your possession for at least 60 days prior to driver's license application date; and
• the power of the lenses must not exceed 3.0X wide angle or 2.2X standard.

If you're a first-time telescopic lens wearer and haven't taken the initial road test, our office will contact you to schedule a road test after we receive your Vision Specialist Report.

All telescopic lens wearers must submit a Vision Specialist Report form annually. If you have submitted a form in the past, our office will mail you a Vision Specialist Report form in advance.

If any additional information is needed, please call the Medical Review Unit at (217) 782-7246.

Download the Vision Specialist Report.

Back to Top

Nighttime Driving Privileges for Telescopic Lens Wearers

In order to apply for nighttime driving privileges, you must first meet the following requirements:

• Possess a valid driver's license and have operated a motor vehicle during daylight hours for a period of 12 months using the telescopic lenses.
• Have a driving record that does not include any traffic accidents that occurred during nighttime hours for which you were at fault during the 12 months before you apply for the nighttime license.
• Successfully complete a road test administered during nighttime hours.

To apply for nighttime driving privileges, please submit a written request including your name, address, date of birth and driver's license number. If no current Vision Specialist Report is on file with this office, one will be required.

Mail your request to the address:

Secretary of State
Medical Review Unit
2701 S. Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 62723

If approved, you will be contacted by the Secretary of State's Office to schedule the nighttime drive test.

Download the Vision Specialist Report.

Back to Top