After eye surgery, do you need to apply for a new driver's license?

Verified 18 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you have had eye surgery (examples: myopia correction, cataract), you should ask an ophthalmologist how soon you can resume driving.

Indeed, to resume driving, you have to fill in conditions in terms of visual acuity and visual field.

After the ophthalmologist's appointment, the steps to take vary according to your situation.

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You still need glasses or lenses to drive

You have no no steps to take.

Indeed, you keep your driving license mentioning on the back code 01. This code means that you must wear glasses or lenses to drive.

You're in a different situation

If you no longer need glasses or lenses to drive, you can request the deletion of code 01 mentioned on the back of your driving license. Indeed, this code means that you must wear a correction device to drive.

You must undergo a medical examination with a licensed medical practitioner to validate the code 01 deletion request.

This doctor should not be your treating physician. You can consult the list of accredited doctors on the websites of the prefectures. The list of accredited doctors is also available in the prefectures, sub-prefectures and in the town halls of certain municipalities.

To go through the medical, you must prepare the following documents:

  • Medical opinion form cerfa no. 14880. You must pre-fill it before the medical examination.
  • Questionnaire about your health status. You can download the questionnaire on page 44 of the Order of March 28, 2022 (Annex III). You must pre-fill it before the medical examination.
  • Medical certificate from your ophthalmologist attesting that your vision again meets the conditions in terms of visual acuity and visual fields
  • Proof of identity in original
  • Original driver's license
  • All the elements you consider useful concerning your health.

At the end of the medical check-up, the doctor will give you the original of the medical opinion cerfa no. 14880.

The application for the new driving license is made online on the websiteANTSANTS : National Securities Agency. Attach the medical opinion to the other documents requested.

Apply online for a new driving license following a medical regularization

An online service allows track your driver's license application.

Track the progress of a driving license application

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