Yes, you can be a pilot and wear glasses. This is a common arrangement in aviation, and the ability to wear corrective lenses does not prevent a person from flying professionally or privately. The determining factor is whether a pilot’s corrected vision meets the specific and measurable regulatory standards established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Foundation of Pilot Medical Certification
All pilots must obtain an Aviation Medical Certificate from an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to legally exercise the privileges of their airman certificate. This certification process confirms a pilot’s physical and mental fitness to fly, and the vision standards applied depend entirely on the level of flying activity planned. The medical standards are outlined in the federal regulation known as 14 CFR Part 67.
The FAA issues three classes of medical certificates, each corresponding to different operational requirements. A First Class Medical Certificate is necessary for pilots engaged in airline transport operations. A Second Class Certificate is intended for commercial pilots who fly for hire but are not performing airline transport duties, such as corporate or charter pilots. The Third Class Certificate is the minimum requirement for private, recreational, and student pilots who fly for personal use.
Specific Vision Acuity Standards
The measurable sharpness of vision, or acuity, is assessed for distant, intermediate, and near ranges. In all cases, the FAA allows the use of corrective lenses, such as glasses or contacts, to achieve the required standard. If corrective lenses are required to meet the standard, the airman medical certificate will be issued with a limitation requiring the lenses to be worn while exercising pilot privileges.
First Class Medical Standards
To qualify for a First Class Medical Certificate, which is required for airline transport pilots, applicants must demonstrate distant visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye separately. The near vision requirement for all ages is 20/40 or better in each eye, measured at 16 inches, which is the typical distance for reading charts and instruments. Pilots who are 50 years of age or older must also meet an intermediate vision standard of 20/40 or better in each eye, measured at 32 inches, which accounts for the distance to the instrument panel.
Second Class Medical Standards
The vision standards for the Second Class Medical Certificate, used by commercial pilots, mirror those of the First Class Certificate. Applicants must achieve 20/20 distant vision and 20/40 near vision in each eye, with or without correction. The intermediate vision requirement of 20/40 at 32 inches also applies to Second Class applicants who are 50 years or older.
Third Class Medical Standards
The requirements for the Third Class Medical Certificate are the minimum standards for private pilots and are less demanding than the commercial classes. Distant visual acuity must be 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction. The near vision standard remains the same as the higher classes, requiring 20/40 or better in each eye at 16 inches. There is no specific intermediate vision requirement for the Third Class Certificate.
Understanding Color Vision Requirements
Color vision is a separate aspect of the medical examination and is non-correctable, as glasses cannot fix this deficiency. The FAA standard requires the pilot to have the “ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties,” which involves distinguishing between colors used in cockpit displays, navigation lights, and airport light signals. First-time applicants are screened for color vision deficiency using approved tests, such as the Ishihara plates or computerized tests.
Failing the initial color vision test does not necessarily result in an outright disqualification from flying. Applicants who fail the initial screening may be restricted to flying only during daylight hours, often with a “No night flying” limitation on their certificate. Alternative testing methods or an operational medical flight test may be pursued to demonstrate the ability to safely perform airman duties. Successful completion of a practical flight test can lead to the issuance of a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA), which allows a pilot to receive an unrestricted medical certificate despite the deficiency.
Rules for Corrective Surgery and Contact Lenses
The FAA has established clear protocols for pilots who choose to undergo refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK or PRK. These procedures are generally acceptable, but the pilot must not resume flying until their post-operative condition has stabilized. This stabilization period often requires a mandatory waiting time until the treating eye care professional determines the vision is stable.
The pilot must also submit documentation, including post-operative reports from their specialist, to the AME or the FAA’s Aerospace Medical Certification Division. This report must confirm that the pilot meets the appropriate vision standards and has no adverse effects, such as corneal scarring or significant night-glare. Pilots who use contact lenses are treated similarly to those who wear glasses, provided their corrected vision meets the required standard for their certificate class. Pilots wearing contact lenses while flying are expected to carry a spare set of corrective lenses to ensure visual capability in the event a contact lens is lost or dislodged.
Maintaining Your Vision and Medical Certificate
The requirement to maintain visual fitness is an ongoing responsibility that extends beyond the initial medical examination. Medical certificates have a finite validity period, and the renewal frequency depends on both the class of certificate held and the pilot’s age. A First Class Certificate is valid for twelve calendar months for pilots under age 40, but only six calendar months for pilots aged 40 and older.
Second Class Certificates must be renewed every twelve calendar months regardless of the pilot’s age. For the Third Class Certificate, the validity is sixty calendar months for pilots under age 40 and twenty-four calendar months for pilots aged 40 and older. Between scheduled medical exams, pilots are responsible for monitoring their health and must report any significant changes in vision or overall eye health to the FAA or their AME.