Tuesday, January 15, 2013

What kind of eye exam is administered to those interested in being a military fighter pilot?

Q. Do they do a standard eye exam or do they also check to see if you have visible eye markings from Lasik surgery?

A. to be a military pilot in the airforce its 20/70 correctable to 20/20 and in the USMC and navy its 20/40 correctable to 20/20 with surgery or contacts i think contacts


Do you have to have perfect eye sight in order to be a pilot?
Q. I'm very interested in becoming a pilot, private or commercial, and I've heard that you have to have perfect eye sight in order to get your license. I do not have perfect eyes, in fact I'm legally blind. I wear contacts and I'm debating on whether or not to get lasik surgery. Please help???

A. Wow, lots of posers on here pretending to know what they are talking about. First, there is no such thing as "perfect vision". 20/20 is referred to as normal vision. What it means is that a person with 20/20 vision can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision sees at 20 feet. If a person has 20/50 vision, they can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision could see at 50 feet. If you have 20/15 vision, that person sees at 20 feet what a person with normal vision would have to move to 15 feet to see clearly. Some people have vision worse than 20/20, some better.

Secondly, and to answer your question, you do not need 20/20 uncorrected vision to fly. All of the FAA requirements for medical standards can be found in part 67 of the current FAR, but the short answer is that for a third class medical (private certificate) you need 20/40 or better vision, either corrected or uncorrected. For a second or first class medical (commercial and ATP) you will need to have 20/20 vision or better, either uncorrected or corrected with lenses. There are other standards for vision and other physical requirements, but you only asked for the visual accuity aspect, so there's your answer. It is the correct answer, and can be verified with a little research.


Can I become an army helicopter pilot if I have lasik eye surgery?
Q. My uncorrected vision is very bad, over 20/200 I believe. I realize that the worst uncorrected vision you can have to become a helicopter pilot in the army is 20/50, but If I get lasik eye surgery which corrects it to 20/20 would I be eligible for flight school?

A. You are correct in that your uncorrected vision is too bad for you to be a helicopter pilot in the Army as is. However, you are also correct in that you can get LASIK surgery and still be eligible to apply if it corrects your vision to 20/20 or better.

The other poster is incorrect when he says that you have to have 20/20 uncorrected and that you cannot wear glasses at all to fly. You can and many people do. Once you finish flight school, your vision can get as worse as 20/400, but must still be correctable to 20/20. See AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness which I have outlined and linked below:

Chapter 2
Physical Standards for Enlistment, Appointment, and Induction

2�12. Eyes

c. Cornea.

(1) Current or history of corneal dystrophy of any type (371.5), including but not limited to keratoconus (371.6) of any degree is disqualifying.

(2) History of refractive surgery including, but not limited to: Lamellar (P11.7) and/or penetrating keratoplasty (P11.6). Radial Keratotomy and Astigmatic Keratotomy is disqualifying. Refractive surgery performed with an Excimer Laser, including but not limited to, Photorefractive Keratectomy (commonly known as PRK), Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (commonly known as LASEK), and Laser- Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (commonly known as LASIK) (P11.7) is disqualifying if any of the following conditions are met:

(a) Pre-surgical refractive error in either eye exceeds + 8.00 to - 8.00 diopters.

(b) At least 6 months recovery period has not occurred between last refractive surgery or augmenting procedure and accession medical examination.

(c) There have been complications, and/or medications or ophthalmic solutions are required.

(d) Post-surgical refraction in each eye is not stable as demonstrated by�

1. At least two separate refractions at least one month apart, the most recent of which demonstrates more than +/- 0.50 diopters difference for spherical vision and/or more than +/- 0.25 diopters for cylinder vision; and

2. At least 3 months recovery has not occurred between the last refractive surgery or augmenting procedure and one of the comparison refractions.


If I had LASIK Surgery, is a waiver required for me to join the military if I have a nursing degree?
Q. I have a degree in Nursing and I am interested in joining the military. I understand that I can apply for a direct commission into the military. However, I have had LasIk eye surgery and I can see 20/20. I was wondering if a waiver would be needed?

A. As long as it has been at least 6 months with no complications and your vision meets post-surgery standard, you would not require a waiver.

You will not be eligible for Airborne school or diving. There is no waiver for that.

AR 40-501





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