Police officers are generally permitted to wear glasses or contact lenses, provided they meet the stringent visual standards set by the hiring agency. These requirements ensure candidates possess the necessary visual capability to safely and effectively perform law enforcement duties. Standards vary across jurisdictions but consistently address both corrected clarity and a minimum baseline of natural, uncorrected vision.
General Visual Acuity Standards
The most common baseline for police candidates is a corrected visual acuity of 20/20. Some agencies accept a slightly lower standard, such as 20/30 in the poorer eye, provided the dominant eye meets the 20/20 standard.
A significant requirement is the minimum uncorrected visual acuity, which measures natural vision without any corrective aid. This standard ensures an officer can still function if their glasses are lost or dislodged during a sudden physical confrontation or emergency. Uncorrected vision standards can range widely, with some departments requiring a minimum of 20/100 binocularly. Failing to meet both the corrected and uncorrected minimums typically results in disqualification from the selection process.
Practical Use of Corrective Lenses
Both eyeglasses and contact lenses are accepted for achieving the required corrected visual acuity. For officers who choose to wear glasses, the department may strongly recommend or require durable frames and shatterproof polycarbonate lenses for enhanced safety. This precaution minimizes the risk of injury or lens breakage during high-risk scenarios or physical altercations.
Contact lenses are often the preferred corrective method for officers engaged in field work due to their practical advantages. Contacts are less likely to be dislodged during a struggle and do not restrict peripheral awareness like eyeglass frames might. Regardless of the corrective device chosen, the officer is expected to have their vision at the required corrected standard while on duty.
Requirements Related to Refractive Surgery
Candidates who have undergone refractive surgical procedures, such as Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) or Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), are generally eligible for police service. These surgical options are often pursued by candidates whose uncorrected vision is too poor to meet the minimum entry standards. After surgery, a mandatory waiting period is enforced to allow the eyes to fully heal and the vision to stabilize.
The waiting period varies, with some agencies requiring a minimum of 30 days for LASIK and 90 days for PRK, while others may demand up to six months post-surgery. Applicants must submit specific medical documentation confirming a stable refraction, often defined as no more than a half-diopter change. This documentation must also confirm the absence of post-operative complications that could impair performance, such as significant glare, halos, or corneal haze.
Stricter Standards for Specialized Roles
While the general standards accommodate the use of corrective lenses for patrol officers, certain specialized units impose significantly stricter requirements on a candidate’s natural, uncorrected vision. Tactical teams (SWAT), K-9 units, or aviation and dive teams face unique operational constraints that necessitate a higher degree of visual independence. These roles frequently involve high-risk, uncompromised environments where the loss of glasses or contacts would be highly detrimental.
An officer in a specialized unit may need to operate with equipment such as gas masks, night vision goggles, or specialized communication gear that can interfere with traditional eyewear. Furthermore, the nature of these operations increases the likelihood of a situation where corrective lenses could be damaged or lost. The stricter uncorrected vision standard ensures that the officer can maintain functional visual acuity even without correction during mission-critical moments.
Other Essential Visual Health Requirements
Visual acuity is only one component of the overall visual health assessment for police candidates. Comprehensive examinations also focus on the ability to perceive color, which is mandatory for distinguishing traffic signals, identifying color-coded evidence, and accurately describing suspects or vehicles. Most departments require successful completion of a standardized color vision test, such as the Ishihara plates or the Farnsworth D-15 test.
Depth perception is another heavily tested factor, necessary for judging distances while driving, accurately aiming a weapon, and navigating spatial awareness during physical tasks. This stereoscopic ability is often measured using tests like the Titmus Stereo Test. The overall medical vision examination confirms that the candidate possesses adequate peripheral vision, typically requiring a minimum of 120 degrees of total horizontal field in each eye, to maintain full situational awareness.