Machines for checking drivers' eyesight started appearing in driver licensing centres about 10 years ago.
They work fine for most people: the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says 96.5 percent of people pass the eyesight test on these machines. Every year the screening checks pick up more than 5000 drivers who need corrective lenses.
But there are a few people (about 2.5 percent of driver licence applicants) who fail the machine test - even though they don't need glasses. These people have to pay for an examination by an optometrist or doctor to certify that their vision's okay.
If this happens to you, can you get your costs reimbursed? NZTA spokesperson Andy Knackstedt says refunds will be considered on a "case-by-case" basis.
NZTA should be doing better than this. You should get a refund as a matter of course if a professional eye examination shows there's nothing wrong with your vision.
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