Deadline nears for New York drivers to submit eye exam to the DMV, or risk suspended license
The DMV has sent out letters and emails to drivers that are affected.
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Thousands of Long Islanders are at risk of having their license suspended by the end of the week if they don’t submit an eye exam to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
This includes 3,700 people in Nassau County and 4,500 people in Suffolk County.
As of Tuesday morning, over 49,000 New Yorkers need to submit their eye exam to the DMV.
This deadline is for people whose license expired from March 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021. The DMV allowed drivers to temporarily self-certify their vision test to prevent people from traveling during the pandemic.
Those heading to a DMV office for an eye test should be warned – officials strongly recommend booking an appointment. Appointment wait times are at least a few business days and they’re filling up fast.
Lisa Koumjian, the DMV deputy commissioner for communications and customer service, says the best bet is to go to an eye doctor and have them submit the form to the DMV electronically.
"The great news is we also have a provider in our vision registry who now conducts the eye test online, which is great. So fast, easy, you don't even have to leave home,” she said.
Dr. Gerard D'Aversa, an ophthalmologist at OCLI Vision, says drivers sometimes discover other issues when coming in for a test.
"They'll come in thinking no problem, let's just check off my forms, just to find out when they're doing the reading test or other tests that we provide that their vision really isn't as good and accurate as they thought it was,” he said.
Whether a test for the DMV or yourself, doctors say make it a habit to check your vision.
"Get yourself seen. Get yourself checked out,” said Dr. D’Aversa. “Make sure you can see better not only for your own safety, but for the safety of everyone out there.”
Find a vision test provider near you using this link.
Details on how to submit the form can be found here.
Commercial driver’s license holders can find details here.
