Contact lens and medical

In article ,
"Viperdoc" wrote:

There are in fact limits for vision beyond just being correctable. If a
person requires high correction they may in fact need a SODA. The FAA exam
form requires examination with and without correction.

So, just correction to acceptable limits is not enough.

JN, MD
FAA AME

Where is that in the FAR?

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

I am not an optometrist, but it is not very convincing to me that
wearing lenses intended for distant vision is perfectly fine for
close-up work too. I like to think of it like supplemental oxygen. Just
because we need it for flying at high altitudes, doesn't mean we should
use it all the time for ordinary activities.

I can only speak from personal experience, and I have found that my
distant vision at night is significantly better since I started using
reading glasses over my contacts for closeup work. In addition, as I
mentioned earlier, my correction dropped by 0.5 in 6 months after
nearly 15 years of unchanged power. May be it is just coincidence.



Mxsmanic wrote:
Jose writes:

It's not clear to me that becoming nearsighted is related to "strain" on
the eyes. My understanding is that it is due to the eyeball being the
wrong shape, and that presbyopia (needing reading glasses as we age) is
due to the lens hardening (and becoming unable to change its focal length).

Yes. Hyperopia and myopia are usually associated with asymmetry in
the shape of the eyeball. Presbyopia is presumed to be due to
hardening of the lens, although there is still some debate about this.

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


"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Viperdoc" wrote:

There are in fact limits for vision beyond just being correctable. If a
person requires high correction they may in fact need a SODA. The FAA
exam
form requires examination with and without correction.

So, just correction to acceptable limits is not enough.

JN, MD
FAA AME

Where is that in the FAR?

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

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


I did, and there's nothing about uncorrected vision requirements. Here
is the section regarding eyesight examination on the link you
suggested:

----------------------------------------

§ 67.103 Eye.

Eye standards for a first-class airman medical certificate a

(a) Distant visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye separately,
with or without corrective lenses. If corrective lenses (spectacles or
contact lenses) are necessary for 20/20 vision, the person may be
eligible only on the condition that corrective lenses are worn while
exercising the privileges of an airman certificate.

(b) Near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at 16 inches in
each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If age 50 or
older, near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at both 16
inches and 32 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective
lenses.

(c) Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance
of airman duties.

---------------------------------------------

Again, where is they FARs does is mention uncorrected requirments?
Please post the actual section or FAR number.

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

In article ,
"Viperdoc" wrote:

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

so, the AME has a standard different than in subpart 67?

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

They get details about how to DO the examinations and apply
procedures.



"Bob Noel" wrote in
message
...
| In article
,
| "Viperdoc" wrote:
|
| Check the previous link that epublishes the guide for
aviation medical
| examiners.
|
| so, the AME has a standard different than in subpart 67?
|
| --
| Bob Noel
| Looking for a sig the
| lawyers will hate
|

In article ,
"Jim Macklin" wrote:

They get details about how to DO the examinations and apply
procedures.

yeah, but that's not the same thing as testing against a
non-existant standard.

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate