NEW!   Vision Re-Testing Pilot Program Launched by the New Jersey MVC

 

 

35 years after the law was enacted calling for a vision retesting program in New Jersey, it is finally here!   

 

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Dear NJAO members,

 

In 1977, New Jersey enacted a law that called for vision retesting every ten years.    The law, however, was never enacted – and the MVC never required the retesting.   

 

Just this month, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission announced a pilot program that enables eye professionals (ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians) and other physicians (family physicians, etc.) to conduct vision retesting in their offices.    NJAO, working with the other eye care organizations, has been meeting with the MVC staff to ensure that the program is easy to use, and can be implemented with relative ease.  

 

Attached you will find a letter from MVC Chief Martinez inviting providers to participate and outlining the Commission’s goal.  Also included is a downloadable informational brochure that will be on the Commission’s Web Site for the providers to hand out to your patients.

 

New Jersey drivers will not be notified of this new program in their license renewals – that may come in the future.  For now, the only way drivers will know about the retesting is from the health care professionals.

 

In order to conduct vision retesting in your office, you will need to secure a bar code reader (to scan the patient’s drivers license, which populates the online forms).    We asked for specific information on which bar code reader physicians should purchase, and unfortunately the MVC is not able to endorse any particular product.   Here is the information they did provide:

 

"The scanner we are using is a Honeywell 4600g. Honeywell does not produce that model anymore, but you can find it on the internet. The replacement model is the Honeywell Xenon 1900, which should work fine as well.

 

The medical community should be aware that these scanners come in two different connection types: USB and Keyboard Wedge. This is the connection that the scanner makes to the computer – the physical port on the computer. Modern computers, and I am guessing most of the doctors, will use a USB. Older computers might need the keyboard wedge – remember those old circular connections with old keyboards? That's a keyboard wedge connection.  

 

The MVC can create a “how to” guide to configure/program the Honeywell 4600g or Xenon 1900 scanner, but we won’t be able to test and create “how tos” for all possible scanners."

 

Check out the MVC website for “frequently asked questions” and the PDF of the brochure.     MVC asks that the providers visit their Website and print the information on demand as needed.

 

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/vision.htm

 

 

Questions?    Call NJAO at 609-392-1201. 

 

Click here for Letter from MVC and Vision Screening Pilot Program brochure.