Failed the Colour Vision Test: What Happens Next

Failed the colour vision test? If you have just been told that you did not pass the colour vision part of your driving licence eye test, you are probably wondering what happens next, whether you can still get your licence, and what you need to do now. The short answer is that failing the colour vision test is not the end of the road. For most licence classes, it does not mean that you cannot drive at all, and even for the professional classes, where colour vision matters more, there are further tests, a referral to an ophthalmologist, and sometimes an exception or a restriction that still lets you drive. This guide explains what happens after a failed colour vision test, what the next steps are, and what your chances are of getting your licence.

Colour vision deficiency, which most people call colour blindness, is very common, especially in men. About one in twelve men, and about one in two hundred women, has some form of red-green colour vision deficiency, and most of them have no idea until they take a test, because they have learned to tell colours apart by brightness and context, and because it rarely causes a problem in everyday life. In driving, the most important colours are traffic lights, and almost everyone with a colour vision deficiency can tell a red light from a green light, because the lights are in different positions as well as different colours. That is why a colour vision deficiency does not normally stop you from driving a car, even though it can affect your chances of becoming a lorry or bus driver.

The colour vision test in the driving licence eye test is usually the Ishihara test, which is a set of plates, each with a circle of coloured dots, and a number hidden in the dots that only a person with normal colour vision can read. If you cannot read the number on several plates, the optician will record that you failed the colour vision test, and they will tell you what to do next. What they tell you depends on the licence class you are applying for, and on how severe your colour vision deficiency is. This article works through each of those cases, so that you know exactly where you stand, and what to do next.

What the colour vision test checks, and why

The colour vision test checks whether you can tell red from green, and whether you can tell the colours used on road signs, traffic lights and signals from each other. The test that is used most often is the Ishihara test, which was invented more than a hundred years ago and is still the standard test in Germany. Each plate is a circle of dots in different shades of red, green, brown and orange, and in the middle of the dots there is a number, or sometimes a shape or a path, that is made from dots in a different colour. A person with normal colour vision can see the number clearly, while a person with a red-green deficiency will see a different number, or no number at all, because the dots look the same to them.

The test is not a trick, and it is not designed to catch you out. The optician will show you the plates one at a time, in good light, and they will ask you to read the number you can see. There is no time limit, and you are not expected to get every plate right. If you cannot see a number on a plate, say so honestly, because guessing can make the result worse, and because the optician needs an accurate record of your colour vision. If you fail several plates, the optician will explain the result, and they will record it on your certificate, together with the rest of your eye test results.

Why does the colour vision test matter at all? For a car driver, it matters very little, because traffic lights are in fixed positions, and because road signs use shapes as well as colours. For a lorry or bus driver, it matters more, because professional drivers need to recognise signals, coloured lights on equipment, and coloured markings quickly, and because the law for professional classes requires normal colour vision, or at least a level of colour vision that is good enough for the job. That is why the colour vision test is part of the professional eye test, and why a failed test can lead to further checks. For a full explanation of the professional test, read our guide to the eye test for professional drivers, lorry and bus.

Why people fail, and what it usually means

Most people who fail the colour vision test have a red-green deficiency that they were born with, and that they have had all their lives without knowing it. There is no treatment for that kind of colour vision deficiency, and it does not get better or worse with age, but it also does not get in the way of driving a car, and most people with it drive perfectly well. It is a genetic condition, it runs in families, and it affects men far more often than women, because the genes for colour vision are on the X chromosome. If your father or your mother’s father had it, you are more likely to have it, but there is nothing you did to cause it, and nothing you can do to cure it.

A smaller number of people fail the colour vision test because of an eye disease, or because of a medication, or because of a problem with the lighting in the test room. If your colour vision has changed recently, or if it only affects one eye, or if it gets worse over time, that can be a sign of a cataract, a problem with the retina, or a problem with the optic nerve, and the ophthalmologist will want to investigate it. That is a medical question, and it is important to take it seriously, because some of the conditions that affect colour vision can also affect your visual acuity, and they can get worse if they are not treated.

There is also a practical reason to stay calm if you fail the colour vision test. The test is a screening test, not a final decision. A failed Ishihara test does not prove that you cannot distinguish colours well enough to drive. It proves that you should have a more detailed test, with a different method, and that an ophthalmologist should look at the result in the context of the licence class you want. Many people who fail the Ishihara test pass the more detailed tests, and many of them go on to get their licence without any restriction at all. That is why the next step is a referral, not a rejection.

What happens next: the referral and the further tests

The next step after a failed colour vision test is usually a referral to an ophthalmologist, the eye doctor. The ophthalmologist will repeat the colour vision test, often with a more detailed set of plates, and they will also check your eyes for any disease that might be affecting your colour vision. The appointment is straightforward, it takes about half an hour, and it costs about the same as a normal eye examination, usually between 50 and 100 euros, although the exact price depends on the practice. Take your driving licence eye test certificate with you, and tell the ophthalmologist which licence class you are applying for, so that they can give you a report that covers the right requirements. For a full explanation of what the ophthalmologist does, read our guide to the eye test at the ophthalmologist.

The ophthalmologist can also do a test that the optician cannot do, and that is the real test of your colour vision in practice. This is sometimes called a practical colour test, or a lantern test, in which you are shown coloured lights, at a distance, and asked to name them, in the same way that you would need to name the colours of traffic lights on the road. Some people who fail the Ishihara plates pass the lantern test easily, because they can tell the colours of real lights apart even though they cannot tell the colours of printed dots apart. That distinction matters, and it is why the ophthalmologist’s report is more detailed than the optician’s certificate, and why the licensing office takes it seriously.

If the ophthalmologist confirms that you have a colour vision deficiency, they will write a report that says how severe it is, whether it affects your ability to drive safely, and whether they recommend any restriction on your licence. That report goes to the licensing office, together with your eye test certificate, and the office will decide what to do. For a car licence, the decision is usually that you can drive, with no restriction, or with a note that you must wear your glasses or contact lenses. For a professional licence, the decision is more complicated, and it depends on the severity of the deficiency and on the class you want.

Car licence versus professional licence

For a car licence, class B, a colour vision deficiency is very rarely a problem. The law for class B requires a visual acuity of 0.7, but it does not require perfect colour vision, and the licensing office will normally accept a certificate that records a colour vision deficiency, provided that your visual acuity is good enough and your visual field is normal. That means that, for most people, failing the colour vision test at the optician is a minor inconvenience, not a barrier, and the ophthalmologist referral is a formality that confirms what is already clear: you can drive a car safely, even if you cannot tell every shade of red from every shade of green.

For a lorry or bus licence, the situation is different. The professional classes require a colour vision test, and the standard is higher, because professional drivers need to recognise signals and coloured markings quickly, and because they are responsible for passengers or for heavy cargo. If you have a mild colour vision deficiency, you may still be able to get a professional licence, especially if you pass the practical lantern test, and the ophthalmologist can recommend that the licence be granted with a note about the deficiency. If you have a severe deficiency, you may be refused a professional licence, or you may be granted a licence for a lower class, such as a car licence, instead. That is a hard outcome, but it is better to know it early, before you spend money on a lorry or bus training course.

There is also a middle path, and it is worth asking about. Some people who are refused a professional licence because of their colour vision are able to get a licence with a restriction, such as a restriction to daytime driving only, or a restriction to a particular type of vehicle, if the licensing office and the ophthalmologist agree that the restriction makes the risk acceptable. These restrictions are rare, and they are decided case by case, so you should not count on one, but you should ask your ophthalmologist whether a restriction would be appropriate in your case, and you should be prepared to accept the decision you are given. For the rules that apply to lorries and buses, see our article on colour blindness and the lorry driving licence.

What you can do while you wait

While you wait for your ophthalmologist appointment, there are some practical things you can do. First, try the colour vision test on our website, our free colour vision test tool, and the simulator, to see how your colour vision looks in practice. Those tools are not a medical diagnosis, but they can help you understand which colours you confuse, and they can give you a better idea of what to tell the ophthalmologist. Second, check the traffic lights and the road signs on your next drive as a passenger, and see whether you can tell them apart, in the way that you will need to as a driver. That will give you confidence that you can drive safely, and it will give you a practical example to share with your doctor.

What you should not do is try to cheat the colour vision test, or to find an optician who will pass you without doing the test properly. There are coloured contact lenses on the market that claim to help people with a colour vision deficiency, and some of them can help you to tell colours apart, but they are not a cure, and they are not accepted as a way to pass the colour vision test for a professional licence. If you are caught using them in a test, or if you wear them and then cannot tell the colours apart in a real situation, you could lose your licence, and your insurance could be affected. Be honest about your colour vision, and let the proper tests decide what you can do.

Finally, do not let a failed colour vision test stop you from taking your theory test or from starting your driving lessons, if your driving school and your ophthalmologist are happy for you to do so. For a car licence, the colour vision result does not normally delay the process, and you can often continue with your lessons while the ophthalmologist report is being prepared. For a professional licence, it is worth waiting for the ophthalmologist’s report before you spend money on a course, so that you know whether you will be able to get the licence at the end of it. That is a matter of money, not of ability, and it is the sensible thing to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does failing the colour vision test mean I cannot drive?
No. For a car licence, a colour vision deficiency is very rarely a barrier, and you can normally get a class B licence with no restriction. It matters more for professional classes, where you may need further tests or a restriction.

What is the Ishihara test?
It is the standard colour vision test, a set of plates with coloured dots that form a number. If you cannot see the number on several plates, you fail the test and you are referred to an ophthalmologist for a more detailed examination.

Can I retake the colour vision test?
Yes. The ophthalmologist will repeat the test, often with different plates, and they can also do a practical test with coloured lights, which some people pass even though they fail the printed plates.

Is there a cure for colour blindness?
No. The most common form, a red-green deficiency, is genetic and cannot be cured, although coloured lenses can help some people to tell colours apart. Most people with it drive perfectly well.

How much does the ophthalmologist referral cost?
Usually between 50 and 100 euros for the examination and the report, depending on the practice. The optician’s eye test itself usually costs between 5 and 10 euros.

Conclusion

Failing the colour vision test is not the end of your driving plans. It is a screening result, and it is the start of a more detailed check, not a final decision. For most people applying for a car licence, it changes nothing: you will be referred to an ophthalmologist, the ophthalmologist will confirm what kind of colour vision deficiency you have, and the licensing office will grant your licence, usually with no restriction at all. For professional drivers, the result matters more, but even there, a mild deficiency, a passed practical test, and a supportive report from the ophthalmologist can still lead to a licence.

The best thing you can do is to act quickly, to book the ophthalmologist appointment, and to be honest about your colour vision at every step. Do not try to cheat the test, and do not assume that a failed test means that you cannot drive. Get the proper tests, get the proper report, and let the licensing office make its decision on the full picture. That way, you will know exactly where you stand, and you will be able to get on with learning to drive, with a licence that reflects your real ability.