POA's Legislative Successes

Enhancement to Bioptic Driving Law

It has been nearly three years since bioptic telescope systems became legal in Pennsylvania when House Bill 2296 was signed and became Act 131 of 2020. The requirements for obtaining a bioptic telescope driver’s license are now in the Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S. §§ 102, 1505, 1508, and 1512.)

Act 131 changed the visual acuity requirement for driving to 20/200, provided a bioptic telescope system is used to enhance central visual acuity. To date, we have at least one driver who completed the process to be issued a bioptic telescope driver’s license, and a few drivers are at various stages of the process.

Information about the steps to go through and obtain a bioptic telescope driver’s license can be found at https://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/Driver-Licensing/Pages/Driving-with-Bioptics.aspx. However, there is an additional enhancement in Act 131 that you should be aware of. Part of the process for obtaining a bioptic telescope driver’s license includes completing ten (10) hours of training during which the individual with bioptic telescopes is a passenger while someone else drives the vehicle. This Passenger In Car (PIC) training may be conducted by a family member driving the vehicle; however, the family member will be required to complete a video training program before starting the PIC training. The video training program covers pathology, low vision assessment, bioptic telescope equipment, PIC training, and behind the wheel training. To take the video training program, family members should send an email to Bioptics@pa.gov and request a link to the videos. After completing the video training program, the family member should again contact Bioptics@pa.gov to move forward with the process.

The Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services Helping to Fund Driving Instructing for Bioptic Driver Candidates
For information regarding bioptic driving and The Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) assistance, please read and share the below information with the driving organization you are affiliated with so they can become a vendor with BBVS. Questions can be directed to Dr. Jeannie Astorino at jastorino98@gmail.com.

Under the direction of Dawn Sokol MA, LPC, CAADC, Director of the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS), BBVS will be helping to fund passenger-in-car training (where applicable), behind the wheel instruction, and the final evaluation by the driving instructor, prior to testing for a limited bioptic telescope driver’s license for BBVS clients. To request funding from BBVS, the individual or driving organization needs to become a vendor for BBVS. To become a vendor, those individuals or organizations can contact Janet Roach at 814-871-4401 to sign up, or contact any of the BBVS district offices. Please feel free to share with your bioptic driving “team.”
Below are the counties covered by BBVS and contact information for those areas as well. Information can also be gotten by email at bbvs@pa.gov.

1. Bedford, Columbia, Montour, Blair, Fulton, Northumberland, Cambria, Huntingdon, Snyder, Centre, Juniata, Somerset, Clinton, Lycoming, Union, Mifflin:
   Contact Altoona: 814-946-7330 Voice, 866-695-7673 Voice, 844-242-1060 TTY
2. Cameron, Erie, McKean, Clarion, Forest, Mercer, Clearfield, Jefferson, Potter, Crawford, Lawrence, Venango, Elk, Warren:
   Contact Erie: 814-871-4401 Voice, 866-521-5073 Voice, 814-871-4599 TTY, 888-884-5513 TTY
3. Adams, Franklin, Lebanon, Cumberland, Lancaster, Perry, Dauphin, York:
   Contact Harrisburg: 717- 787-7500 Voice, 866-375-8264 Voice, 717-787-1733 TTY, 888-575-9420 TTY
4. Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, Philadelphia:
   Contact Philadelphia: 215-560-5700 Voice, 866-631-3892 Voice
5. Allegheny, Butler, Indiana, Armstrong, Fayette, Washington, Beaver, Greene, Westmoreland:
   Contact Pittsburgh: 412-565-5240 Voice, 866-412-4072 Voice, 412-392-5921 TTY, 888-870-4474 TTY
6. Berks, Luzerne, Sullivan, Bradford, Monroe, Susquehanna, Carbon, Northampton, Tioga, Lackawanna, Pike, Wayne, Lehigh, Schuylkill, Wyoming:
   Contact Wilkes-Barre: 570-826-2361 Voice, 866-227-4163 Voice, 570-820-4848 TTY

Find a low vision provider here.

Find relevant white papers here:

Driving and Vision

Low Vision Rehabilitation

Early refills of prescription eye drops

Prior to the signing of Act 162 of 2022, individuals throughout the Commonwealth who relied on prescription eye drops for the maintenance of their vision were running out before they were eligible for a refill, which interrupted treatment of conditions like glaucoma, eye infections, inflammations, and more. Without those prescription eye drops, those individuals risked permanent vision loss. Even those who used the utmost care in storing and using their eye drops found it nearly impossible to get the medication to last the full duration of the prescription, and because of the rising cost of medications, patients were forced to either pay out of pocket or forgo treatment until a refill was available. 

Thanks to the collaboration between the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and the Pennsylvaia Academy of Ophthalmology, who worked together to pass this bill, Act 162 now helps to ensure that individuals of all ages in Pennsylvania have access to their necessary and important sight-saving medications when they need them.

View the official Act here.