German Opticians Authorized to Conduct Driver's License Vision Tests Using Perimetry

Since August 18, 2026, German optician businesses are permitted to conduct and certify vision examinations for Group 2 driver’s licenses under Annex 6 No. 2.1 of the Driver’s License Ordinance (FeV). This regulatory change introduces perimetry into routine practice, as the ordinance requires testing a visual field of 70 degrees on both sides, unlike standard central acuity tests. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) cannot replace perimetry because it does not measure visual fields in this manner. For passenger car and motorcycle licenses, visual field testing is only required if the initial test fails, at which point an ophthalmologist assumes responsibility. The article distinguishes between devices measuring central acuity versus those assessing peripheral vision, noting that opticians’ certification authority ends where specific medical interventions or specialist assessments are legally mandated.