Pilots can wear glasses, and many professional aviators rely on corrective lenses to meet the stringent medical standards required for flight duties. The ability to fly depends on achieving a specific level of visual acuity, not on having naturally perfect vision. International and national regulatory bodies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), establish strict medical standards that govern a pilot’s physical capabilities, including their vision. These requirements ensure safety, and the visual standard a pilot must meet varies depending on the level of certification they hold, such as a private pilot license versus an airline transport pilot license.
Required Vision Standards for Civil Aviation
The highest level of civilian flying, typically associated with the First-Class Medical Certificate for airline transport pilots, requires specific numerical standards for visual acuity. Distant vision must be 20/20 or better in each eye separately, and this standard must be met with or without the use of corrective lenses.
Near vision is equally important for reading charts and cockpit instruments, requiring acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye, measured at a distance of 16 inches. An intermediate vision standard is also introduced for pilots aged 50 and older who hold a First or Second-Class Medical Certificate, requiring 20/40 acuity at 32 inches. This specialized measurement is necessary to ensure clear vision of modern instrument panels and display screens located at arm’s length in the cockpit. These checks are mandatory and must be successfully repeated at the time of medical certificate renewal, which occurs at defined intervals depending on the pilot’s age and certificate class.
How Pilots Use Corrective Measures
Pilots who require vision correction commonly use both eyeglasses and contact lenses to achieve the required visual acuity standards. If a pilot’s certification notes that corrective lenses are required, they must be worn at all times while exercising the privileges of their airman certificate. A pilot who wears contact lenses or glasses is also required to carry a spare pair of corrective lenses readily available on the flight deck.
Corrective eye surgery procedures, such as Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), are generally acceptable for commercial pilots. The primary requirement following any refractive surgery is that the pilot’s vision must have stabilized, and they must be free from significant side effects like night glare or fluctuating acuity. For procedures like LASIK, pilots must typically wait a minimum of two weeks post-surgery for their vision to be considered stable enough for evaluation, while PRK often requires a longer period of about 12 weeks. A detailed report from the treating eye specialist must be submitted to the licensing authority to confirm the stability of the outcome before the pilot can return to duty.
Specific Conditions That Prevent Flying
While many vision issues can be corrected, certain ophthalmological conditions are permanently disqualifying if they cannot be managed to meet the minimum standards. The most common disqualifying condition is the inability to adequately perceive colors, or color blindness. Pilots must be able to distinguish the colors necessary to safely perform their duties, such as differentiating between red and green tower light signals or color-coded information on navigation displays.
Failing the initial color vision screening, often conducted with pseudoisochromatic plates, does not always end an aviation career, as alternative, more practical tests are available. However, unmanageable conditions that affect visual field or clarity, such as advanced glaucoma or severe cataracts that cannot be corrected to the required acuity, will result in the denial of a medical certificate. Any disease that causes unmanageable visual field loss or progressive deterioration is considered a safety risk, impacting the pilot’s ability to scan the environment and maintain situational awareness.
Comparing Military and Commercial Pilot Requirements
A fundamental difference exists between the vision standards for civil and military pilots, particularly regarding uncorrected vision. Commercial airline pilot standards are primarily focused on the quality of corrected vision, meaning a pilot can have severely impaired natural vision as long as lenses restore it to 20/20. Military services, especially for fast-jet or fighter pilots, historically placed a much higher value on excellent uncorrected vision.
The rationale for the military’s stricter initial requirements stems from the operational environment, where a pilot might lose a contact lens or break glasses in a high-G maneuver or combat situation. A military pilot must be able to perform their duties instantly without reliance on corrective devices. Although military branches have increasingly accepted refractive surgery, the initial entry standards for uncorrected vision often remain significantly higher than those for commercial pilots, which ensures a baseline of natural visual resilience.