NRCME Vision and Hearing Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A commercial driver uses a bioptic telescopic lens to meet visual acuity standards. Under FMCSA regulations, how should the medical examiner handle this?
- Certify the driver if vision is 20/40 with the telescope
- Disqualify the driver; bioptic lenses do not meet FMCSA vision standards (Correct answer)
- Issue a 1-year certificate pending state waiver approval
- Certify if the driver passes the road test with the device
Correct answer: Disqualify the driver; bioptic lenses do not meet FMCSA vision standards
FMCSA does not accept bioptic telescopic lenses as meeting the 20/40 vision standard for commercial drivers.
Question 2: What is the minimum horizontal visual field requirement in each eye for FMCSA commercial driver certification?
- 50 degrees
- 60 degrees
- 70 degrees (Correct answer)
- 80 degrees
Correct answer: 70 degrees
FMCSA requires at least 70 degrees of peripheral vision in the horizontal meridian in each eye.
Question 3: A driver has corrected visual acuity of 20/40 in the right eye and 20/200 in the left eye. Which certification action is appropriate?
- Certify with a vision waiver
- Certify if the driver passes a road test
- Disqualify; the driver does not meet the vision standard in both eyes (Correct answer)
- Issue a 1-year certificate with annual monitoring
Correct answer: Disqualify; the driver does not meet the vision standard in both eyes
FMCSA requires at least 20/40 corrected vision in each eye individually; 20/200 in one eye fails this standard.
Question 4: During a commercial driver examination, which test method is used to assess color vision under FMCSA guidelines?
- Farnsworth D-15 color arrangement test only
- Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates only
- Any test that assesses the ability to recognize traffic signal colors (Correct answer)
- No formal color vision test is required
Correct answer: Any test that assesses the ability to recognize traffic signal colors
FMCSA requires the ability to distinguish red, green, and amber but does not mandate a specific color vision test instrument.
Question 5: A driver presents with monocular vision due to enucleation of the left eye and has held a valid CMV license for 3 years. How should the examiner proceed?
- Certify without restriction under the grandfather clause exemption
- Disqualify; monocular vision automatically disqualifies all drivers
- Evaluate for the FMCSA Vision Exemption Program if the driver fails the standard (Correct answer)
- Issue a 90-day certificate while awaiting specialist clearance
Correct answer: Evaluate for the FMCSA Vision Exemption Program if the driver fails the standard
Monocular drivers who cannot meet the vision standard may apply for the FMCSA Vision Exemption Program, which allows qualified drivers to continue operating CMVs.
Question 6: Under FMCSA regulations, what is the required distant visual acuity for a commercial driver WITHOUT corrective lenses if glasses are not available during driving?
- 20/20 in each eye
- 20/40 in each eye
- 20/200 in each eye
- The driver must wear corrective lenses at all times if needed to meet standards (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The driver must wear corrective lenses at all times if needed to meet standards
If a driver needs corrective lenses to meet the 20/40 standard, they must wear them while driving and will have a 'corrective lenses' restriction on their certificate.
Question 7: A driver reports that he hears a forced whispered voice at 5 feet in one ear with the other ear covered. What does this finding indicate regarding FMCSA hearing standards?
- The driver passes; 5 feet meets the minimum requirement (Correct answer)
- The driver fails; the minimum is 6 feet in the better ear
- The driver fails; 5 feet does not meet the minimum
- The finding is inconclusive; audiometry must be performed
Correct answer: The driver passes; 5 feet meets the minimum requirement
FMCSA requires perception of a forced whispered voice at not less than 5 feet, so hearing at exactly 5 feet in the better ear meets the standard.
NRCME Vision and Hearing Requirements 2
A commercial driver uses a bioptic telescopic lens to meet visual acuity standards.
Under FMCSA regulations, how should the medical examiner handle this?