Vision Standards in Mil.

[BuckMurdock1]

I was just curious- does anyone know if the 'perfect specimen' requirement that has always been there for OCS flight may be relaxed soon.. or at least rumors of?? Like going to correctable to 20/20.. how about LASIK or similar procedures?
Thanks
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[matthias_welles]

I graduated from OCS in February '03 and right now I am going through primary flight training with the Navy.

It used to be that you had to have 20/20 vision to become a pilot for the military. Now I think that the cutoff is 20/50 correctable to 20/20 with glasses.

If your' vision is really poor (worse than 20/50), you can get a medical waiver if you have your vision corrected with PRK surgery to 20/20. I think that is the only eye surgery that the Navy will allow. As for the other branches, I have no idea.

Ofcourse, you can always sign up to become a Flight Officer. They have no vision requirements. You won't be at the controls, but you'll still be able to fly.

Hope this helps.

 

[keydet96]

I'm pretty sure that The Air Force is 20/70 correctable to 20/20. I've heard that PRK is a possible alternative, but am not sure.

 

[CrewDawg]

here is the eye requirements of the 180th F.W. at KTOL, i assume that is AF wide

Eyesight 20/70 or better and is correctable to 20/20
Refraction 2.00 to 1.50; Astigmatism no more than 1.50; Anisomethopia no more than 2.00

 

[SMan]

20/70 correctable. Does that mean if you have something like, 20/40 that you have to get glasses or contacts?

 

[MDPilot]

Yep, when my left eye went from 20/20 to 20/25, they made me start wearing glasses when I flew (Rt eye was still 20/15). Gotta stay 20/20, with a spare pair of glasses with you when you fly.