Francis Hodibert, a 62-year-old lorry driver from Slough, Berkshire, has taken Specsavers to court, alleging that a mishandled eye test at one of the optician’s branches in 2022 cost him his livelihood and left him grappling with severe mental health challenges. The case, now moving through London’s High Court, centers on Hodibert’s claim that the optician’s alleged negligence led to the wrongful revocation of his heavy goods vehicle (HGV) licence—a blow that, he says, triggered a cascade of anxiety, depression, and uncertainty about his future ability to work.
According to The Independent and corroborated by multiple outlets, Hodibert’s ordeal began in the summer of 2022, when he underwent two mandatory visual field tests at his local Specsavers. These tests, required by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for all commercial drivers, are designed to ensure that those behind the wheel of large vehicles have both adequate distance vision and a healthy peripheral field. For Hodibert, however, the experience was anything but routine: both tests reportedly resulted in failure, leading the DVLA to revoke his HGV licence and, by extension, his means of earning a living.
“Because of all this the claimant has suffered personal injury, loss and damage,” stated Michael O’Neill, Hodibert’s barrister, in documents submitted to the court and quoted by The Independent. O’Neill went further, accusing Specsavers staff of “carrying out their field of vision tests so as to produce false results” and “submitting an inaccurate report to the DVLA.” These alleged inaccuracies, he argued, set off a chain reaction: not only did Hodibert lose his job, but he also developed a “worsening mixed depression and anxiety disorder as a result of the matters herein complained of.”
For Hodibert, the consequences stretched well beyond lost wages. As reported by GB News, the emotional toll of being unable to work and the uncertainty of whether he would ever regain his licence left him questioning his own capabilities and future. The six months that followed the failed tests were, by all accounts, deeply challenging. Yet, a glimmer of hope emerged in January 2023, when Hodibert underwent a new visual field assessment—this time administered by a consultant ophthalmologist rather than Specsavers staff. He passed. With this new evidence, he successfully appealed the DVLA’s decision, and his HGV licence was reinstated on March 31, 2023.
Still, Hodibert and his legal team argue that the damage had already been done. In addition to the disruption of his career, O’Neill emphasized that his client’s personal and domestic life had been “substantially disrupted.” The barrister told The Independent, “His condition is such that he is unable to work as an HGV driver, or at all, and his personal and domestic life has been substantially disrupted. It is uncertain that he will ever make a sufficient recovery to work again.”
The legal complaint, supported by a medical report submitted to the court, seeks damages exceeding £200,000. Hodibert’s team maintains that the evidence points to clear negligence on the part of Specsavers, and they argue that the financial compensation is justified by the scale of both the professional and personal harm suffered.
Specsavers, for its part, has confirmed that it will defend the action. A spokesperson for the company told The Independent and other news outlets that they plan to contest the claims, though they did not offer further details about their defense strategy at the time of reporting. As the legal process unfolds, the company’s response—and any evidence it presents about the procedures used in Hodibert’s tests—will be closely watched by both the optical industry and professional drivers alike.
The case has drawn attention not just because of the sums involved but also because it highlights the high stakes of health assessments for those working in safety-critical professions. The DVLA’s requirements for commercial drivers are among the most stringent in the UK, demanding not only standard vision but also a robust assessment of peripheral vision, typically using specialized equipment. As NationalWorld pointed out, even a minor error or miscommunication during these tests can have life-altering consequences for drivers and their families.
For Hodibert, the sense of injustice is palpable. In his filings, he asserts that had the original tests been conducted properly, he would never have lost his licence or faced the subsequent emotional fallout. His barrister, O’Neill, was unequivocal in his assessment: “The inaccurate results led to the unwarranted suspension of his client’s licence, contributing to serious emotional distress.”
The lawsuit also raises broader questions about the reliability and oversight of health assessments carried out by high-street opticians. While Specsavers is a well-known brand trusted by millions, the case underscores the importance of rigorous training, accurate reporting, and clear communication with regulatory authorities. It’s a reminder that, for those whose livelihoods depend on passing such assessments, the margin for error is vanishingly small.
As the High Court prepares to weigh the evidence, observers are left to consider what the outcome might mean for the wider industry. Should Hodibert prevail, it could prompt calls for tighter regulation or more thorough auditing of vision tests conducted by opticians—especially those serving the commercial driving sector. Alternatively, if Specsavers successfully defends its procedures, it might reinforce confidence in the current system but leave lingering questions about how best to protect drivers from the consequences of potential testing errors.
For now, Francis Hodibert’s fight continues—a personal battle with implications that stretch far beyond his own circumstances. As the case unfolds, it serves as a stark illustration of how a single moment in a testing room can reverberate through every aspect of a person’s life, and why the stakes are so very high when health and livelihood intersect.
The outcome of this legal dispute could shape not only Hodibert’s future but also the standards and safeguards governing vision assessments for professional drivers across the country.