Becoming a pilot is often perceived to require perfect, uncorrected vision, but this is a common misunderstanding. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permits the use of corrective lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses, to meet the necessary visual acuity standards for all levels of pilot certification. What matters is an individual’s ability to see clearly while exercising the privileges of a pilot certificate, whether that clarity is achieved naturally or with assistance. Many professional and private pilots wear glasses or contacts every day while adhering to the FAA’s established medical requirements.
Understanding Pilot Medical Certification Classes
The journey to becoming a certified pilot in the United States requires passing a medical examination administered by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). This examination results in one of three classes of medical certificates, which align with the privileges a pilot may exercise.
A First-Class Medical Certificate is mandatory for Airline Transport Pilots flying for major commercial airlines. Commercial Pilots, who fly for hire, require a Second-Class Medical Certificate. The Third-Class Medical Certificate is the minimum requirement for Private Pilots flying for recreation and for student pilots beginning training. The requirements for vision, hearing, and general health are outlined in the Federal Aviation Regulations.
Vision Requirements for Different Pilot Certificates
The FAA sets specific visual acuity benchmarks for distant, intermediate, and near vision, which must be met for each class of medical certificate, with or without corrective lenses.
First and Second Class Requirements
For First-Class and Second-Class Medical Certificates, a pilot must demonstrate distant visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye separately. The near vision standard for both classes is 20/40 or better in each eye at 16 inches. Pilots aged 50 or older applying for these certificates must also meet an intermediate vision standard of 20/40 or better in each eye at 32 inches.
Third Class Requirements
A Third-Class Medical Certificate has a more lenient distant vision requirement of 20/40 or better in each eye separately. This is the minimum standard required for private and student pilots.
In all cases, if corrective lenses are used to meet the standard, the medical certificate will bear the limitation “Must Wear Corrective Lenses.” The pilot must have these lenses on hand while flying.
Specific Visual Conditions and Potential Disqualifications
Beyond simple visual acuity, the ability to correctly perceive color is a separate, non-negotiable requirement for all pilots. Pilots must distinguish between colors necessary for the safe performance of their duties, such as interpreting airport light gun signals, navigation lights on other aircraft, and colored instruments in the cockpit.
An applicant’s color vision is tested by an AME using approved methods, which historically included the Ishihara plates but now often favor computerized tests. If an applicant fails the initial test, the FAA offers alternative evaluation methods, including operational tests to demonstrate the ability to identify aviation signal colors.
If a deficiency is confirmed and cannot be mitigated, the pilot may receive a restriction, such as “Not Valid for Night Flying or by Color Signal Control.” This restriction can significantly limit career options for commercial pilots. Other conditions, such as monocular vision, severe uncorrectable double vision, or certain progressive eye diseases, are specifically disqualifying due to the risk of visual incapacitation during flight.
The Role of Corrective Eye Surgery
Corrective eye surgery, such as Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), is generally acceptable to the FAA as a means to meet visual acuity standards. These procedures are viewed as a permanent form of correction, provided the outcome is stable and without complications. The FAA requires that a pilot suspend flying duties immediately following the procedure until the treating eye specialist confirms the vision has stabilized.
The required waiting period before an AME can re-issue a medical certificate depends on the procedure and the time needed for the eye to heal. For procedures like LASIK and SMILE, the waiting period can be as short as two weeks, while PRK may require three months. The AME must receive a comprehensive post-operative report confirming the pilot meets vision standards, has stable visual acuity, and has no significant adverse effects such as persistent glare or halos.
Military Pilot Vision Standards
The vision standards required for military pilots are more demanding than those for civilian pilots, reflecting the high-performance nature and operational stress of military aviation. While civilian standards focus on corrected vision, military branches often emphasize excellent uncorrected visual acuity. This stricter requirement applies particularly to pilots in high-performance roles, such as fighter jets, where rapid visual acquisition of targets is necessary.
Military pilot applicants must meet strict refractive error limits, which determine the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness allowed, even if the vision is correctable to 20/20. For example, the U.S. Air Force requires specific uncorrected vision standards and limits on astigmatism for pilot candidates. Although military policies are evolving to be more accepting of corrective eye surgery, the overall standards remain less tolerant of refractive error than the FAA’s civilian requirements.