Can Pilots Wear Glasses?

This could be the most raised question in the aviation industry: Are pilots allowed to fly with glasses or contact lenses? We know that you have read about this so many times before, but this is the time where you will get a hard and fast answer. 

Yes, pilots are allowed to undertake flying duties with glasses or contact lenses. However, here is what you want to know to make the answer complete. 

Being bespectacled and willing to start flight training and all of a sudden, you come across someone saying pilots cannot wear glasses. We know the feeling! You feel daunted and think of switching careers. We urge you, having four eyes will not disqualify you from being any type of a pilot, even a fighter pilot. 

Regulatory Requirements 

These are the real concerns you will have to worry about. There are certain regulations imposed for people with vision impairments by the regulatory bodies. It is more common that you will have to go through a medical test before enrolling for any type of flight training starting from PPL to ATPL. Class 1 medical certificate will be the most stringent and qualifying for one will get you out of the trouble. 

FAA Requirements

• Distant vision- 20/20 or higher with or without correction in each eye. 
• Near vision- 20/40 visual acuity in each eye individually measured at a distance of 16 inches (40 cm). 
• Intermediate vision for pilots aged 50 and older- 20/40 visual acuity in each eye individually measured at a distance of 32 inches (80 cm).

EASA Requirements 

• Distant vision: 6/9 (0,7) or higher is required for each eye individually with or without correction. 
• The acuity of both eyes should be 6/6 (1,0) or better for non-corrected vision. 

Monovision 

If one eye of a person is not functional or the visual acuity of the same eye is poorer than 20/200, he is considered to be monovision. 

FAA accepts monovision students enrolling for the training courses and is allowed to sit for any medical test. They may have to go one extra step ahead to verify their competence for flying duties with the help of an eye specialist. 

Color Vision

Unfortunately, a color vision deficiency can hold back and disqualify you from usual flying activities. Color vision deficiency is an inability to differentiate among colors. This can be tested online via available self-tests or by meeting an eye doctor. Usual glasses or contact lenses will not be useful for treating color vision and many airlines will consider a color-blind individual unfit for piloting an aircraft. 

For people with corrected vision, it is always advisable to be equipped with a readily available pair of glasses for immediate use. 

We covered the basic ground you will have to be aware of before commencing a career in aviation if you are bespectacled. Additionally, there will be more or less requirements depending on the intended flight-training course or the license category. If you are through the basic requirements even with a corrected vision, you are more likely to get the green light.