vision

[marty321]

I have a question about eye vision and becoming a pilot. I heard that you can wear contact lenses and still become a pilot. But you are limited on what aircraft you can fly. Does anybody know any info about that?

Any information would help me. Thank you

[Brad]

There's no limit. If you're qualified, you're qualified. There are fighter pilots, bomber pilots, helicopter pilots, and cargo pilots who wear glasses.

[Grimmy]

I dont know if it's still true but it was said once upon a time that the hotshots go for fast movers, the wise ones go for multi-engine.

Seems fighter pilots tended to have a harder time finding employment in fly type jobs after leaving service and multi-engine pilots had a much brighter prospect.

[Vulture6]

Unless things have changed (and that is entirely possible) you need uncorrected 20/20 to get into and through flight school. If your eyes go to shit after you have your wings, you're good to go as far as glasses and contacts.

Bottom line, check with your OSO. His info is current and mine is at least 10 years old.

[Grimmy]

Wow, I just realized I was a bit off topic there. Even more than usual.

Sorry 'bout that.

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by Vulture6

Unless things have changed (and that is entirely possible) you need uncorrected 20/20 to get into and through flight school. If your eyes go to shit after you have your wings, you're good to go as far as glasses and contacts.

I was thinking the same thing for the Corps Vulture. I know that's what used to be but didnt want to have foot in mouth disease. I am wondering from Brad's response if the Air Force was a little more lenient.

[Brad]

AF, Navy and Army are much more lenient - and I'm pretty sure even the Marines now are "correctable to 20/20." I'm not positive about that though.

[Brad]

Update:

As far as I can find, the Marine Corps uses the same physical requirements as everybody else. In every branch, you have to be able to pass a Class 1 Flight physical. However, apparently because of carrier ops, the Navy and Marines are a little bit more restrictive on vision requirements - 20/40 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. I know the Army and Air Force requirements aren't quite that tight - you can get in with something like 20/50 correctable in the Army and 20/70 correctable in the AF. And with all branches, once you're in a certain amount of deterioration is permitted.

This from the military.about.com website:

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).

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/genjo...ilotvision.htm

Another thing to consider is that all branches are now accepting some forms of surgical correction. But bear in mind that not all procedures are permitted. If you're at all thinking about laser vision correction of any kind, talk with a flight surgeon before you do anything.

Here's more:

http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/Nami/Wa.../exams.htm#sna

[USMCRET6391]

Good Info Brad, thanks for the update. I knew the standards had to be the same for Navy and Marine Pilots as they are all "Naval Aviators", just wasnt sure if they had been relaxed since I retired.