A lorry driver from Slough, Berkshire, is suing Specsavers after a failed eye test left him unable to work and suffering from depression. Francis Hodibert, 62, lost his HGV licence in 2022 after failing a visual field test at a Specsavers branch, but it was reinstated six months later following a test by a consultant ophthalmologist.
Mr Hodibert claims the initial test results were inaccurate due to negligence by Specsavers staff. His barrister, Michael O’Neill, told the High Court that the opticians had carried out the test in a way that produced false results and submitted an inaccurate report to the DVLA. The DVLA revoked his licence in September 2022 based on that report.
After a separate test in January 2023, Mr Hodibert's licence was reinstated in March 2023. However, he says the ordeal has severely impacted his professional and personal life, leaving him with anxiety and depression. He is seeking more than £200,000 in damages.
Court documents state that Mr Hodibert's condition is such that he is unable to work as an HGV driver or at all, and it is uncertain whether he will ever recover sufficiently to work again. The case continues.
