After eye surgery, do you need to apply for a new driver's license?
Verified 18 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you have had eye surgery (examples: myopia correction, cataract), you should ask an ophthalmologist how soon you can resume driving.
Indeed, to resume driving, you have to fill in conditions in terms of visual acuity and visual field.
Visual acuity and visual field requirements for resuming driving a vehicle with a non-professional permit lightweight group ( B , BE, B1, A1, A2, A) are:
- Binocular visual acuity of 5/10 or greatere
- Binocular horizontal visual field greater than or equal to 120°
- Horizontal binocular field of vision greater than or equal to 20° upwards and downwards
- Binocular horizontal field of vision greater than or equal to 50° to the right and to the left
- Binocular horizontal visual field without defect within a radius of 20° from the central axis.
After the ophthalmologist's appointment, the steps to take vary according to your situation.
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You still need glasses or lenses to drive
You have no no steps to take.
Indeed, you keep your driving license mentioning on the back code 01. This code means that you must wear glasses or lenses to drive.
You're in a different situation
If you no longer need glasses or lenses to drive, you can request the deletion of code 01 mentioned on the back of your driving license. Indeed, this code means that you must wear a correction device to drive.
You must undergo a medical examination with a licensed medical practitioner to validate the code 01 deletion request.
This doctor should not be your treating physician. You can consult the list of accredited doctors on the websites of the prefectures. The list of accredited doctors is also available in the prefectures, sub-prefectures and in the town halls of certain municipalities.
To go through the medical, you must prepare the following documents:
- Medical opinion form cerfa no. 14880. You must pre-fill it before the medical examination.
- Questionnaire about your health status. You can download the questionnaire on page 44 of the Order of March 28, 2022 (Annex III). You must pre-fill it before the medical examination.
- Medical certificate from your ophthalmologist attesting that your vision again meets the conditions in terms of visual acuity and visual fields
- Proof of identity in original
- Original driver's license
- All the elements you consider useful concerning your health.
At the end of the medical check-up, the doctor will give you the original of the medical opinion cerfa no. 14880.
The application for the new driving license is made online on the websiteANTS: titleContent. Attach the medical opinion to the other documents requested.
Apply online for a new driving license following a medical regularization
An online service allows track your driver's license application.
Track the progress of a driving license application
Driving license dispatch
The driving license (driving license) is shipped by Letter Followed.
This type of dispatch traceable, with mailbox delivery, is different from traditional mail.
You must pay attention to the address you provide in the online procedure. It must be as complete as possible (building number, apartment number, mailbox number, floor, hallway, staircase, "resident", etc.).
Your mailbox should contain the first and last name of the person who receives the mail.
Follow-up of the dispatch of the driving license
From the receipt of the SMS informing you of the validation of your online request, you must count about 15 days to receive your driving license (driving license).
At the end of the stage of manufacturing your driving license, you receive a mail containing a mail tracking link. This link allows you to track the progress of your driving license.
Tracking the dispatch of your driving license can also be done directly on the La Poste website with the number of the mail followed.
Please note
In order to stay informed of the status of your application and the dispatch of your driving license, remember to provide your phone number and email during the teleprocedure.
In the event of failure to obtain a driving license
If you did not receive your driving license (driving license) while the mail tracking view shows a distribution made, contact theANTS: titleContent via the contact form:
Who shall I contact
Citizens Contact Center - Driving license
Online Contact Form
Access to contact form
By telephone
34,00 (no surtax)
09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and foreigner
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Infographie - Decrypt driving license
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The infographic explains the information on the driving license.
Front of the driving license:
1. Name of holder
2. Surname of the holder
3. Date and place of birth of holder
4a. Date of issue of the certificate
4b. End date of validity of the security
4c. Issuing authority
5. Title number
7. Signature of the holder
9. Categories of permits
Unnumbered legend: symbol and name of the State which issued the driving license
Reverse side of the permit:
9. Categories of permits
10. Date of 1re issue of each category of permit
11. Expiry date of each license category
12. Restrictive codes. For example: 01.01 for glasses
Unnumbered Legend: File Number (NEPH Number)
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Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Citizens Contact Center - Driving license
Online Contact Form
Access to contact form
By telephone
34,00 (no surtax)
09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and foreigner
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Organization of medical checks on driving ability
Obligations of the driver (Article R412-6)
Online service
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