It is common practice to routinely instruct patients not to drive after being administered mydriatics with the explanation that insurance companies may not pay out in the event of a motor vehicle accident. Although there is no objective evidence to suggest that driving performance is compromised by pupil dilation, a handful of papers have shown that dilatation has a small but significant effect on visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and glare sensitivity.1–3 It is possible that in the minority of patients, this may result in the vision dropping below the legal requirements set by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), UK.2

Keightley quoted personal communications with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) suggesting that insurers would have …