Ophthalmic optics - Instruments and test methods for assessing drivers' vision - Part 1: Visual acuity

This European standard applies to the minimum requirements and test methods for instruments used for assessing driver’s visual acuity in the context of the European driving licence requirements.
This standard does not apply to decision or recommendation to grant a driving licence according to the vision test results, that shall be the responsibility of a medical authority.

Augenoptik - Geräte und Prüfverfahren zur Beurteilung des Sehvermögens von Kraftffahrern - Teil 1: Sehschärfe

Diese Europäische Norm legt die Mindestanforderungen an und Prüfverfahren für Geräte fest, die zur Bestimmung der Sehschärfe von Kraftfahrern entsprechend den europäischen Führerscheinanforderungen eingesetzt werden.
Diese Norm betrifft nicht die Entscheidung oder Empfehlung über die Ausstellung eines Führerscheins aufgrund der Ergebnisse der Sehprüfung; dies muss durch eine medizinische Behörde erfolgen.

Optique ophtalmique - Instruments et méthodes d'essai pour évaluer la vision des conducteurs - Partie 1: Acuité visuelle

La présente Norme européenne s'applique aux exigences minimales et méthodes d'essai pour les instruments utilisés pour évaluer l'acuité visuelle des conducteurs dans le cadre des exigences relatives au permis de conduire européen.
Elle ne s'applique pas à la décision ou à la recommandation de délivrer un permis de conduire en fonction des résultats de l'examen de la vision, qui doit relever d'une autorité médicale.

Očesna optika - Instrumenti in preskusne metode za ocenjevanje vida voznikov - 1. del: Ostrina vida

General Information

Status
Not Published
Publication Date
23-Apr-2017
Withdrawal Date
23-Oct-2017
ICS
11.040.70 - Ophthalmic equipment
Technical Committee
CEN/TC 170 - Ophthalmic optics
Drafting Committee
CEN/TC 170/WG 9 - Vision testing for motor vehicle driving
Current Stage
4098 - Decision to abandon - Enquiry
Start Date
09-Dec-2016
Completion Date
14-Apr-2025
Ref Project
oSIST prEN 16917-1:2015 - Ophthalmic optics - Instruments and test methods for assessing drivers' vision - Part 1: Visual acuity

Overview

prEN 16917-1 (CEN) specifies minimum requirements and test methods for instruments used to assess drivers' visual acuity in the context of European driving licence screening. The standard focuses on screening instruments and test procedures used to confirm that a driving licence applicant reaches the minimum visual acuity requirements set by EU directives. It does not replace the medical authority's responsibility to decide on licence issuance.

Key Topics

  • Scope and purpose: Defines minimum specifications for devices used in driver vision screening, including printed charts, chart projectors, electronic displays and enclosed devices.
  • Optotypes and sizes: Screening sets shall include optotypes for monocular testing from 0.1 to 0.8 and at least 0.5 for binocular testing. The Landolt ring is recommended as the gold-standard optotype when equivalence of other optotypes is not proven.
  • Sets and presentations: A minimum of two different sets of optotypes per acuity grade must be provided. Minimum presentations per grade follow EN ISO 8596 guidance (e.g., 2 presentations for 0.1, 3 for 0.125–0.2, 5 for ≥0.25).
  • Test field and distance: The test field shall be at least 2° in size and extend 0.5° around the optotype; the minimum real or virtual test distance is 4 m.
  • Pass/fail criteria: For screening, the instrument's pass criterion requires at least 80% correct responses of the total optotypes; for tests with fewer than five optotypes this means all must be correct.
  • Manufacturer responsibilities: Instruments must be accompanied by instructions for use, setup, maintenance, safety warnings, and a reference to prEN 16917-1 when compliance is claimed. Permanent marking requirements also apply.

Applications

This standard is intended for manufacturers, test centres, licensing authorities and clinical services conducting vision screening for driving licences. Practical applications include:

  • Purchasing or validating vision screening instruments for driver assessment
  • Designing screening protocols aligned with EU driving licence visual requirements
  • Training staff on standardized use of optotypes (including Landolt rings) and consistent test administration
  • Ensuring documentation and device marking for regulatory compliance

Benefits: promotes consistent, repeatable screening methods; aids comparability across EU member states; clarifies device information and pass/fail rules for screening instruments.

Related Standards

prEN 16917-1 references and complements the following standards and directives:

  • EN ISO 8596 - Visual acuity testing (optotypes and presentation)
  • EN ISO 10938 - Chart projectors
  • EN 60601-1 - Medical electrical equipment: general safety and essential performance
  • Relevant EU driving licence Directives (2006/126/EC and subsequent amendments)

For implementers, follow the normative references for device testing and electrical safety, and remember that final licence decisions remain with the medical authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

prEN 16917-1 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Ophthalmic optics - Instruments and test methods for assessing drivers' vision - Part 1: Visual acuity". This standard covers: This European standard applies to the minimum requirements and test methods for instruments used for assessing driver’s visual acuity in the context of the European driving licence requirements. This standard does not apply to decision or recommendation to grant a driving licence according to the vision test results, that shall be the responsibility of a medical authority.

This European standard applies to the minimum requirements and test methods for instruments used for assessing driver’s visual acuity in the context of the European driving licence requirements. This standard does not apply to decision or recommendation to grant a driving licence according to the vision test results, that shall be the responsibility of a medical authority.

prEN 16917-1 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 11.040.70 - Ophthalmic equipment. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

prEN 16917-1 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2015
2þHVQDRSWLND,QVWUXPHQWLLQSUHVNXVQHPHWRGH]DRFHQMHYDQMHYLGDYR]QLNRY
GHO2VWULQDYLGD
Ophthalmic optics - Instruments and test methods for assessing drivers' vision - Part 1:
Visual acuity
Augenoptik - Geräte und Prüfverfahren zur Beurteilung des Sehvermögens von
Kraftffahrern - Teil 1: Sehschärfe
Optique ophtalmique - Instruments et méthodes d'essai pour évaluer la vision des
conducteurs - Partie 1: Acuité visuelle
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 16917-1
ICS:
11.040.70 Oftalmološka oprema Ophthalmic equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
September 2015
ICS 11.040.70
English Version
Ophthalmic optics - Instruments and test methods for
assessing drivers' vision - Part 1: Visual acuity
Optique ophtalmique - Instruments et méthodes Augenoptik - Geräte und Prüfverfahren zur Beurteilung
d'essai pour évaluer la vision des conducteurs - Partie des Sehvermögens von Kraftffahrern - Teil 1:
1: Acuité visuelle Sehschärfe
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 170.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 16917-1:2015 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Visual acuity test requirements . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Sub-set of letter size to be used for screening purpose . 6
4.3 Number of sets . 6
4.4 Number of optotype . 6
4.5 Test field and distance . 6
5 Test methods . 6
6 Information to be supplied by the manufacturer . 6
7 Marking . 7
Annex A (normative) Pass/fail criteria . 8
Annex B (informative) Recommendation for conducting the test . 9
Bibliography . 10

European foreword
This document (prEN 16917-1:2015) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 170
“Ophthalmic optics”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
Introduction
Driver safety is an important concern, and one of the priority of the European community is to reduce
the number of fatal accident and more generally, to improve safety for drivers. Recently published new
European Directives about driving licence have proposed new requirements and particularly new visual
requirements for drivers to help improve safety. This European Standard will help the application of
these Directives, and more particularly proposes standard specification and test methods to control that
visual acuity of the driver reaches the minimum requirement of the Directives.
1 Scope
This European Standard applies to the minimum requirements and test methods for instruments used
for assessing driver’s visual acuity in the co
...

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