I'v 17 and have been wearing glasses since i was 13 now. I really would like to be a airline pilot but feel my eye sight is going to let me down. Is there any chance that my vision will naturally improve over the next few years until my eyes have fully developed? Would ask my optician but he's on holiday :rolleyes:


Thanks a bunch,

Hi and just like to say congrats on having such a high ambition. I think that is great.
I don't know how your vision is... Have you checked the vision requirements for becoming a pilot? My neighbor's son is a pilot in the Air Force (flys F-16's and another one, I forget it's name), but he wears glasses or contacts. He's been to Afghanistan, so his vision hasn't kept him from becoming a pilot. So, don't count yourself out just yet...check things out with your doctor or maybe find a way to see if you would be go to go in that direction. ANd in the worst case scenario, and your vision wouldnn't qualify you to become a pilot...the flight crew consists of various positions that you may find just as satisfying, too. There are always options in life. Go for the Gold and Good Luck!

Hiya: I don't know the air force's regulations, but would laser surgery be acceptable to correct your eyesight? That would depend of course on what your problem is--near, far, astigmatism?

T.

Thanks for the replies, I seen on TV sometime that there has been a new technique which involves a contact lense being worn at night time which can reshape the retina i think it was, but this only works for long sighted. I am short sighted so could there be a way in which this technique may soon be used as a sort of treatement for short sighted?

Thanks again for any replies

Hi again. I think I remember seeing something on the re-shaping thing, too. But I thought I had heard it was kind of a temporary thing. As Torre said they do have surgery (laser, etc) to correct vision , but with all surgieries you need to know that there are always risks of complications. Your eye dr may know the vision requirements for pilots. It won't hurt to ask next time you see him/her. I know if your vision gets too bad, they need to report it to state registries (at least in my state they do), so a person isn't driving around legally blind.

That reshaping contact lens is for the cornea, I believe.
Near-sightedness responds very well to laser surgery.

T.

Hi,

Even noone will reply to my posts, I'll reply to this one. I'm a student pilot, soon to be a private pilot in July.

III Class Medical: Private Pilot

Distant Vision - 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction.
Near Vision - 20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction, as measured at 16 inches.
Intermediate Vision - No requirement.
Color Vision - Ability to perceive those colors necessary for safe performance of airmen duties. (In another words, color blind is not passing this requirement)

II Class Medical: Commercial Pilot

Distant Vision - 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction.
Near Vision - 20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction, as measured at 16 inches.
Intermediate Vision - 20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction at age 50 and over, as measured at 32 inches.
Color Vision - Ability to perceive those colors necessary for safe performance of airmen duties. (In another words, color blind is not passing this requirement

I Class Medical: ATP (Airline Transport Pilot)

Same as II(Second) Class Medical


The military doesn't prefer glasses or contacts but there are alot more people out there with them. Even a lot of airline pilots wear glasses or contacts than you may think. But, there are other ways to become an airline pilot - ie: Becoming a CFI and working you're way up with your ratings, types, class, etc.

I have a III Class Medical and will go for a II Class Medical next. I and II Class Medicals expire in a shorter amount of time than Class III Medicals.

I can fill you in about the military requirements since I am planning to go Army's flight training program, I was interested in Navy and Airforce in the past so I know their requirements as well, let me know here if you want to learn about 'em, if this thread is dead I don't want to waste lot of time, requirements are WAY DIFFERENT than what FAA requires. You are going to be tested for refraction errors along with visual acuity! Not only acuity. This will help the service branches determine where your vision is going. For instance, I read in another thread that cwpilot has some bad refraction error on both eyes, according to limits he can not be a pilot in the military but PRK is being waivered by the military. He can just get an exception to policy.