depth perception

[rjl2001]

hey, i have a quick question about depth perception. when i took a flight physical for the coast guard, they said my depth perception wasn't good enough for rescue swimmer. then i just saw a navy flight surgeon today who said i "have no depth perception" after he gave me the test with the circles, and the one with the three bars. so my life long dream of flying in the military is shot, but what about civilian? i've done a little flying and never seem to have a problem with my depth perception. but is depth perception part of any of the FAA flight physicals? i would like to try to fly corporate jets for a living eventually and wanted to make sure i'd still have a shot at that. thanks

 

[LAXSaabdude]

I'm not a doctor, not do I play one on TV, but....

I seem to recall that my brother once had depth perception problems, and he was given a series of eye exercises by his optomotrist to fix the problem.

Which leads me to believe that depth perception may be a problem that can be fixed through "training" of the eye.

Keep looking into this. You may have some options.

LAXSaabdude.

 

[bobbysamd]

Eye exam

I agree that from the civilian standpoint you might have some options. Military requirements are sometimes more strict when compared to civilian. Go to your civilian optometrist for a thorough exam and get his/her opinion before you go forward. (Based on previous experiences, I would never go to an ophthalmologist for an eye exam, but that's just me.) After all, it is an FAA medical that you will need to fly civilian. www.leftseat.com is an excellent website on FAA medicals.

Good luck with your plans.

 

[sydeseet]

I haven't any either. Besides making me a less than stellar ball player, combined with my lacking of athletic aptitude in general, it has never inhibited me from doing anything practical. I have held a first class medical for quite a few years now and have yet to even have it mentioned or tested at any medical exam. Depth perception does not exist beyond about 50 feet so the appication in flying is very limited. The military is probably pickier about it because it might, I say MIGHT, make learning close formation flying a little more challenging. I have never tried it so I don't know. Anyhoo, don't sweat it. If you don't have any and have made it this far than it shouldn't be a problem now. I have a friend who was denied his navy medical because he couldn't cross his eyes enough. Whatever. Welcome to the civi side of life!!!

 

[flint4xx]

I don't think depth perception is tested on an FAA medical. Read FAR 67. (I think it's 67)

 

[rjl2001]

thanks guys, i'm overseas and don't have a far/aim handy or else i would check that for info on the faa physicals. hey if there are any Army Aviatiors in here, are they less strict as far as depth perception or more likely to give a waiver.

 

[ShawnC]

I don't think depth perception is tested on an FAA medical. Read FAR 67. (I think it's 67)

The winner. All that is required to pass the vision portion of a first class flight physical is vision that is correctable to 20/20 if I remember correctly.

 

[flint4xx]

The whole section for First Class...

Section 67.103: Eye.
Eye standards for a first-class airman medical certificate are:

(a) Distant visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) are necessary for 20/20 vision, the person may be eligible only on the condition that corrective lenses are worn while exercising the privileges of an airman certificate.

(b) Near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If age 50 or older, near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at both 16 inches and 32 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.

(c) Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.

(d) Normal fields of vision.

(e) No acute or chronic pathological condition of either eye or adnexa that interferes with the proper function of an eye, that may reasonably be expected to progress to that degree, or that may reasonably be expected to be aggravated by flying.

(f) Bifoveal fixation and vergence-phoria relationship sufficient to prevent a break in fusion under conditions that may reasonably be expected to occur in performing airman duties. Tests for the factors named in this paragraph are not required except for persons found to have more than 1 prism diopter of hyperphoria, 6 prism diopters of esophoria, or 6 prism diopters of exophoria. If any of these values are exceeded, the Federal Air Surgeon may require the person to be examined by a qualified eye specialist to determine if there is bifoveal fixation and an adequate vergence-phoria relationship. However, if otherwise eligible, the person is issued a medical certificate pending the results of the examination.

 

[A Squared]

The winner. All that is required to pass the vision portion of a first class flight physical is vision that is correctable to 20/20 if I remember correctly.

Uhhh, no, that is not true at all. You also have to be able to distinguish colors (remember those colored dots with the numbers ?) and have normal field of vision. You are also tested for hyperphoria, exophoria and esophoria. These have to do with where your eyes point relative to each other and are related to depth perception. You recall the slide in the eye test where you are asked which object seems to be closest to you? that tests depth perception directly.


Now having said that, I know of persons with only one eye were able to get second class (and possibly first class) medicals. Obviously a person with one eye has no depth perception, so it is not an absolute disqualifier, but you may have to wade through some red tape.

 

[ShawnC]

Uhhh, no, that is not true at all. You also have to be able to distinguish colors (remember those colored dots with the numbers ?) and have normal field of vision. You are also tested for hyperphoria, exophoria and esophoria. These have to do with where your eyes point relative to each other and are related to depth perception. You recall the slide in the eye test where you are asked which object seems to be closest to you? that tests depth perception directly.


Now having said that, I know of persons with only one eye were able to get second class (and possibly first class) medicals. Obviously a person with one eye has no depth perception, so it is not an absolute disqualifier, but you may have to wade through some red tape.

I forgot about the color blindness test. But I don't remember any of the other tests you mentioned, mine was read the entire chart top to bottom with both eyes.

Now different chart, read the bottom two lines with one eye, another chart, different eye read the bottom two lines. And that was it.

Maybe it's something age related like the EKG?