The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accepts corrected vision for nearly all pilot certificates, addressing the common misconception that pilots must possess naturally perfect 20/20 vision. While visual acuity standards are strict, they focus on the operational capability of a pilot’s vision, whether corrected by glasses, contacts, or surgery. The ability to achieve the required visual performance, not the natural state of the eyes, determines eligibility, though specific requirements vary based on the level of flying privileges sought.
The Foundation: FAA Medical Certification Classes
A pilot’s flying privileges are directly linked to the class of their FAA medical certificate, which establishes the necessary health standards for the role. The three levels of medical certification—Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3—correspond to different types of aviation activities and ensure the pilot’s medical fitness aligns with the complexity of their flight operations.
The First-Class Medical Certificate is the highest standard, mandatory for Airline Transport Pilots (ATP) acting as Pilot-in-Command in airline operations. A Second-Class Medical Certificate is required for commercial pilots flying for hire, such as those conducting corporate flying or carrying passengers and cargo. The Third-Class Medical Certificate is the minimum requirement for private pilots, recreational pilots, and student pilots flying solo.
Detailed Visual Acuity Requirements for Pilots
The FAA’s distance visual acuity standards differ significantly across the certificate classes. For First-Class and Second-Class Medical Certificates, covering all commercial flight operations, distant vision must be 20/20 or better in each eye separately. This standard must be met with or without corrective lenses, meaning corrected vision is fully acceptable for professional pilots.
The standard is less stringent for the Third-Class Medical Certificate, which requires distant vision of 20/40 or better in each eye separately. This lower requirement applies to private pilots not flying for compensation or hire. If correction is needed to meet the standard for any class, the medical certificate will carry a limitation requiring corrective lenses to be worn while flying.
Using Corrective Lenses and Eye Surgery
The use of corrective lenses is fully accepted among pilots, but the FAA requires specific operational stipulations. Pilots relying on glasses or contact lenses must have a spare set of corrective lenses readily available in the cockpit while performing airman duties. This safety measure ensures the pilot can maintain visual standards if their primary lenses are lost or damaged during flight.
Pilots who have undergone refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK or Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), may be certified if the outcome is stable and meets the required visual standards. Following the procedure, the pilot must wait for vision to stabilize, typically requiring a minimum recovery period of about six weeks. The applicant must submit detailed post-operative reports to the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to document stability and confirm there are no adverse side effects, such as significant glare or halos, that would impair flight safety.
Monovision correction, where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near vision, is generally not permitted because it can compromise depth perception and binocular function. The FAA requires the pilot to meet distance and near vision standards in each eye independently. If the AME confirms the vision meets the standards after surgery, the pilot may be issued a medical certificate, potentially without the restriction to wear corrective lenses if the uncorrected vision is now sufficient.
Beyond 20/20: Color and Near Vision Standards
Visual requirements extend beyond distant acuity to include standards for near vision, intermediate vision, and color perception. Near vision is required to read instruments, charts, and maps; for all medical certificate classes, the standard is 20/40 or better in each eye at 16 inches. Pilots aged 50 and older seeking a First-Class or Second-Class certificate must also meet an intermediate vision standard of 20/40 or better at 32 inches, necessary for reading modern glass cockpit displays.
Color vision is assessed to ensure the pilot can correctly distinguish colors necessary for safe flight, such as those used in air traffic control light signals and cockpit instrumentation. The FAA has modernized its testing protocols, moving away from older static tests like the Ishihara plates toward new computerized color vision tests. First-time applicants must now pass one of the three FAA-approved computerized tests, such as the City Occupational Colour Assessment & Diagnosis (CAD) or the Rabin Cone Test. Failure to pass the color vision test may result in the medical certificate being restricted to daytime flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
Securing Your Medical Certificate
The process of obtaining a medical certificate begins with the applicant completing an online application detailing their medical history through the FAA’s MedXPress system. The next step is scheduling an appointment with an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), who performs the required flight physical and vision tests for distance, near, and color perception.
If the applicant successfully meets all established medical standards, the AME will issue the medical certificate immediately. If a complex medical condition is present, the AME may defer the application to the FAA for further review. In cases where a pilot does not meet the standard but the condition is not a threat to flight safety, the FAA may issue a Special Issuance, often requiring additional documentation or periodic monitoring.