Do they make any exceptions for military pilots to wear glasses or contacts?
O'hare
Can they wear contacts?
My dad is Army. And as most Military parents they would love their kids to follow in their footsteps. I've always wanted to be in the Navy and be a pilot. So I would love to be both. A Navy pilot. However, my vision is not 20/20. But with my contacts my vision is 20/20. I don't believe I'm a candidate for Lasik due to eye surgery when I was young.
Thanks to both of you!
Answer
Air Force
To enter flight training, a candidate must pass a Flight Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot, that means the candidates vision can be no worse than 20/70 (correctable with glasses to 20/20) in each eye. To enter Navigator Training, the candidate can have vision no worse than 20/200 in each eye (also must be correctable to 20/20).
After flight school, the standards relax a little. Pilots and Navigators who have already graduated flight training, can remain fliers as long as their vision doesn't deteriorate beyond 20/400 in each eye (correctable to 20/20).
Normal depth perception and color vision is required.
Effective May 21, 2007, applicants who have had LASIK eye surgery are no longer automatically disqualified from flight training. See related article.
Navy and Marine Corps
The Navy and the Marine Corps use the same standards (The Marines do not have their own medical department. They use the Navy for all medical procedures and standards). Navy Pilots must pass a Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, an applicant's uncorrected vision can be no worse than 20/40 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. Once flight training begins, vision can deteriorate to no worse than 20/100 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training graduation, if the eyesite deteriorates worse than 20/200 (must be correctable to 20/20), the pilot will require a waiver for carrier operations. If the vision deteriorates past 20/400 (correctable to 20/20), the pilot is restricted to aircraft with dual controls (ie, aircraft with co-pilots).
For Navigators (called "NFOs" or "Navy Flight Officers"), there is no vision requirement to enter flight training. However, the Navigator's vision must be correctable to 20/20 and there are limits on refraction. Refraction must be less than or equal to plus or minus 8.00 sphere in any meridian and less than or equal to minus 3.00 cylinder. No more than 3.50 anisometropia. After flight training, to continue on flight status there is no limit on refraction for NFOs. No waivers are authorized for NFO applicants who exceed these refraction limits.
Normal color vision is required for both NFOs and pilots. Normal depth perception is required for pilots and pilot applicants.
The Navy allows laser eye surgery, both for current pilots and NFOs, and for pilot/NFO applicants, if they apply for, and are accepted to participate in the Navy's on-going study about laser eye surgery for aviators.
Army (Rotary Wing)
The Army has very few fixed-wing aircraft. The vast majority of Army pilots are helicopter pilots. Army Aviators must pass a Flight Class I Flying Physical. To enter Army Helicopter Flight Training, as either a commissioned officer or warrant officer, the applicant can have vision no worse than 20/50 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training, pilots can remain on flight status as long as their vision does not deteriorate beyond 20/400 (correctable to 20/20).
Normal depth perception and normal color vision is required.
Like the other branches, it is possible to apply for Army Flight Training and/or remain on flying status with laser eye surgery, if one is accepted into the Army's Aviator Laser Eye Surgery Study Program.
Air Force
To enter flight training, a candidate must pass a Flight Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot, that means the candidates vision can be no worse than 20/70 (correctable with glasses to 20/20) in each eye. To enter Navigator Training, the candidate can have vision no worse than 20/200 in each eye (also must be correctable to 20/20).
After flight school, the standards relax a little. Pilots and Navigators who have already graduated flight training, can remain fliers as long as their vision doesn't deteriorate beyond 20/400 in each eye (correctable to 20/20).
Normal depth perception and color vision is required.
Effective May 21, 2007, applicants who have had LASIK eye surgery are no longer automatically disqualified from flight training. See related article.
Navy and Marine Corps
The Navy and the Marine Corps use the same standards (The Marines do not have their own medical department. They use the Navy for all medical procedures and standards). Navy Pilots must pass a Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, an applicant's uncorrected vision can be no worse than 20/40 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. Once flight training begins, vision can deteriorate to no worse than 20/100 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training graduation, if the eyesite deteriorates worse than 20/200 (must be correctable to 20/20), the pilot will require a waiver for carrier operations. If the vision deteriorates past 20/400 (correctable to 20/20), the pilot is restricted to aircraft with dual controls (ie, aircraft with co-pilots).
For Navigators (called "NFOs" or "Navy Flight Officers"), there is no vision requirement to enter flight training. However, the Navigator's vision must be correctable to 20/20 and there are limits on refraction. Refraction must be less than or equal to plus or minus 8.00 sphere in any meridian and less than or equal to minus 3.00 cylinder. No more than 3.50 anisometropia. After flight training, to continue on flight status there is no limit on refraction for NFOs. No waivers are authorized for NFO applicants who exceed these refraction limits.
Normal color vision is required for both NFOs and pilots. Normal depth perception is required for pilots and pilot applicants.
The Navy allows laser eye surgery, both for current pilots and NFOs, and for pilot/NFO applicants, if they apply for, and are accepted to participate in the Navy's on-going study about laser eye surgery for aviators.
Army (Rotary Wing)
The Army has very few fixed-wing aircraft. The vast majority of Army pilots are helicopter pilots. Army Aviators must pass a Flight Class I Flying Physical. To enter Army Helicopter Flight Training, as either a commissioned officer or warrant officer, the applicant can have vision no worse than 20/50 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training, pilots can remain on flight status as long as their vision does not deteriorate beyond 20/400 (correctable to 20/20).
Normal depth perception and normal color vision is required.
Like the other branches, it is possible to apply for Army Flight Training and/or remain on flying status with laser eye surgery, if one is accepted into the Army's Aviator Laser Eye Surgery Study Program.
What is the procedure of Lasik surgery like?
Rout
Is the procedure of Lasik surgery painful?
I'm 18 years old and I recently asked my dad for contacts, which he said yes to. But he gave me the suggestion on getting Lasik surgery. It has been a week now and he is strongly suggesting to get the surgery.
I'm afraid of pain and I really hate the idea of doing the surgery. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what it's like during the procedure and after. Thank you.
Answer
I had lasik back in April. It didn't hurt at all. Afterwards, all I had was a little dryness, maybe a little burning, but nothing that I would even consider uncomfortable. All of this went away in just a few days, and they give you drops that completely ease this. All I can say is that it was the best thing that I have done in a long time. Waking up the next morning and being able to see things clearly, there is nothing like that.
One thing that I did do was research the doctors in my area. I ended up paying almost $4000 for my surgery, but I got the best. (your eyes are nothing to skimp on).
There are some downsides to consider. 1) It is sort of a trade off. You get nice clear distant vision, but as you age, your reading vision will decline. At around 40 (average) you will need reading glasses at about the same strength of your current distant vision. On the other hand, everybody loses reading vision as they age anyway. I figure. I would have ended up needing reading glasses when I get old anyway, plus I much prefer only wearing glasses for reading as opposed to all the time for the rest of my life. Also, I am 37 now, and my reading vision is perfect so far.
2) You may hear some people say that you will see a halo around lights after the surgery, but this is temperary, and is mostly just around LED lights, and it never bothered me much.
A doctor will map your eye so that the best outcome is achieved. So as long as you find a good doctor, you will be fine.
The actual procedure takes about 10 min. total. They lay you down under the machine, numb your eyes with drops. Then, they place a thing around your eye to hold the lid open (doesn't hurt, just a little pressure) then they will tell you to look at a light and the laser cuts the flap. The doctor folds the flap back, and for a second your vision goes blurry. Then the laser zaps off the correct amount of your cornia in the exact spots that your eye map dictates. Then the dr. folds the flap back down and then he will use a surgical wipe to wipe down the flap on your eye. You will see all of this, but all you will feel is wetness from the solution. Then, he swings you around under the other side of the machine, and does everything on the other eye. Plus, you will feel totally relaxed, because they give you a valium before starting.
I had lasik back in April. It didn't hurt at all. Afterwards, all I had was a little dryness, maybe a little burning, but nothing that I would even consider uncomfortable. All of this went away in just a few days, and they give you drops that completely ease this. All I can say is that it was the best thing that I have done in a long time. Waking up the next morning and being able to see things clearly, there is nothing like that.
One thing that I did do was research the doctors in my area. I ended up paying almost $4000 for my surgery, but I got the best. (your eyes are nothing to skimp on).
There are some downsides to consider. 1) It is sort of a trade off. You get nice clear distant vision, but as you age, your reading vision will decline. At around 40 (average) you will need reading glasses at about the same strength of your current distant vision. On the other hand, everybody loses reading vision as they age anyway. I figure. I would have ended up needing reading glasses when I get old anyway, plus I much prefer only wearing glasses for reading as opposed to all the time for the rest of my life. Also, I am 37 now, and my reading vision is perfect so far.
2) You may hear some people say that you will see a halo around lights after the surgery, but this is temperary, and is mostly just around LED lights, and it never bothered me much.
A doctor will map your eye so that the best outcome is achieved. So as long as you find a good doctor, you will be fine.
The actual procedure takes about 10 min. total. They lay you down under the machine, numb your eyes with drops. Then, they place a thing around your eye to hold the lid open (doesn't hurt, just a little pressure) then they will tell you to look at a light and the laser cuts the flap. The doctor folds the flap back, and for a second your vision goes blurry. Then the laser zaps off the correct amount of your cornia in the exact spots that your eye map dictates. Then the dr. folds the flap back down and then he will use a surgical wipe to wipe down the flap on your eye. You will see all of this, but all you will feel is wetness from the solution. Then, he swings you around under the other side of the machine, and does everything on the other eye. Plus, you will feel totally relaxed, because they give you a valium before starting.
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Title Post: Do they make any exceptions for military pilots to wear glasses or contacts?
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Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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