Contact lens and medical

Viperdoc wrote:
Check the previous link that epublishes the guide for aviation medical
examiners.


Let's put this issue to rest once and for all:

Source:
http://www.aviationmedicine.com/arti...e&articleID=41

The visual acuity standards for medical certification by the FAA are
very clear. First and Second Class medical certification require 20/20
vision with correction at distant and 20/40 at near. Third class
certification only requires 20/40 corrected vision at distant and 20/40
at near. Distant vision is measured at the equivalent of 20 feet. Near
vision is measured at 16 inches. For pilots aged 50 years and older,
intermediate vision measured at 32 inches must correct to 20/40 or
better. The previous uncorrected visual acuity standard at distant
(20/100) was dropped in the September 1996 revision of Part 67 of the
FARs. Currently, there are no uncorrected vision standards in the FARs.
This means a pilot's vision at distance could be 20/400, but as long
as it corrects to 20/20 in each eye, the pilot meets the Part 67.103
vision standards for First Class medical certification. See Chapter 4
of the Guide to Aviation Medical Examiners for full details.

Air traffic controller applicants and "on-board" ATCS working in both
Terminals and Centers must demonstrate 20/20 distant vision in each eye
separately, without correction, or distant visual acuity of 20/200 or
better in each eye separtely, with correction to 20/20 in each eye.
Glasses or contact lenses are permitted. For ATCS in Flight Service
Stations there is no uncorrected limit as long as the vision corrects
to 20/20 bilaterally.

For near vision applicants need to be 20/20 as well. Uncorrected near
vision limits are 20/50 or better in each eye that corrects to 20/20 in
each eye. The combination of glasses and contacts is disqualfying.
All on-board ATCS near vision must correct to 20/30 or better