DIN Standards Committee Optics and Precision Mechanics
DIN 58220-7
Visual acuity testing - Part 7: Mesopic contrast vision, without and with glare, for road traffic related vision testing; Text in German and English
Sehschärfebestimmung - Teil 7: Mesopisches Kontrastsehen, ohne und mit Blendung, für straßenverkehrsbezogene Testung; Text Deutsch und Englisch
Overview
Parts 3, 5, 6 and 7 of standard series DIN 58220 specify methods for visual acuity testing as well as the relevant optotypes and conditions of presentation used. The application of the procedures specified in the standards ensure that the visual acuity grades provided are comparable to each other. The requirements concerning visual acuity for particular situations and the relevant specific testing conditions can vary depending on the questions asked: Part 5 of DIN 58220 specifies vision screening tests for general use according to Principles G 25 and G37 of the German Employer's Liability Insurance Association which require visual acuity measurement, while Part 3 of DIN 58220 deals with visual acuity testing performed for use in expertise to confirm blindness or a grade of partial sight. Parts 6 and 7 of the standard series refer to visual acuity measurement specifically required for obtaining an access permit (called a vision screening test for a driving license), in particular to visual acuity (Part 6) and to mesopic (twilight) vision (Part 7). The introduction of a European Driving License Directive in 2009 raised the question of whether standardization would be desirable for the data concerning truck drivers' vision. The requirements vary considerably in the countries of the EU and standardized European methods and procedures for visual acuity testing for such an application do not exist. National Committee NA 027-01-08 AA "Augenoptik" ("Ophthalmic optics") of Working Group "Ophthalmische Instrumente" ("Ophthalmic instruments") in the Optics and Precision Mechanics Standards Committee (NAFuO) is responsible for standard series DIN 58220 to provide DIN standardization for European visual acuity testing. A European Working Group CEN/TC 170/WG 9 "Instruments and test methods for assessing drivers' vision" has been set up in the meantime to work on this topic. The English translations of DIN 58220 to enable preparation of this topic are now available to interested experts: DIN 58220 Standard Parts 3, 5, 6 and 7 shall now be re-released in a survey method in both German and English. The intended amendments to Parts 3, 5 and 6 are limited to supplementing the English translation, whereas for Part 7 more specific requirements are intended concerning oblique positions of optotypes with glare in testing.
