Dumb question about 1st, 2nd class medical vision requirements

[MFRskyknight]

I just need a little clarification...

On the requirements for the 3rd class aviation medical, it says something about 20/20 (or maybe it was 20/40?) vision being necessary with or without corrective lenses. This doesn't surprise me, because my dad and a lot of other GA pilots I know wear glasses the size of windshields.

But on the 2nd and 1st class medical req., it states that 20/20 distant acuity is required, with nothing mention about corrective lenses. I am stuck wondering whether they omitted that as more of a redundancy avoidance or because, to entertain the dream of becoming an airline pilot, you must be born with perfect vision? Can someone help me out on this? I know it's got to sound like I haven't really done my research here (which is true to some extent), but just having someone who knows the answer to my stupid question on here would make me feel better.

Thanks,

MFRskyknight

 

[sky37d]

It is not uncommon to see the Capt of a 747 pull out his tri-focals.

Does that help?

 

[wrxpilot]

Don't worry, it's not a stupid question. I did a lot of research myself as it is not that obvious... Even if you can obtain a 1st class, will the airlines look down on you compared to somebody w/ perfect vision, etc.? Same type of stuff I was wondering about.

For the most part, in commercial aviation this is not a problem (charter, freight, airlines, whatever). The military is still pretty stringent about natural eye sight though. Some types of laser surgery are not yet approved by some airlines, so if that's your goal (airlines) do some further research.

 

[MFRskyknight]

Thanks for your help, guys. I had especially wondered about the acceptable-but-not-desirable aspect of corrected vision for the airlines, and whether that should be a restricting concern for me. Quite often you don't find these sort of grey areas pinned down so easily in written terms; that's where shared experience on here comes in handy.


MFRskyknight

 

[JCJ]

vision

I have horrible nearsightedness, some astigmatism and a little presbyopia - all corrected to 20/20 near & far with progressive lens glasses.

I pass a class 2 yearly, with no difficulties. the certificate is annotated "corrective lens wear required"

good luck