Vision for Air Force Pilots

Humey

5-Year Member
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Jun 21, 2016
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I have always been confused about the vision requirement to be an AF pilot. So I read Near vision: uncorrected 20/40, but corrected to 20/20

So if you are 20/40, how do you correct to 20/20? By glasses? Are they saying if you are 20/40 and wear glasses you are okay? So why not 20/60 by glasses. I would assume it doesnt mean corrected by Laser surgery because from what I read you can be far worse than 20/40 and have the Laser surgery
 
The vision requirement to become a pilot is 20/40 with no correction and 20/20 with glasses or contacts. The uncorrected vision is after approved laser eye surgery (if you had it). After you become a pilot the vision requirement is relaxed. For Navy the it is 20/100 uncorrected for unrestricted operations.

Why? That one I cannot answer.
 
I find it strange that you are allowed to wear glasses at 20/40 but not at 20/60. I mean if they are going to bother letting you fly with glasses, why should they care what your vision is as long as it isnt extreme. Or is it that they dont wear glasses when they are flying and 20/40 is good enough or they do wear glasses but they want to make sure that if something happened to the glasses in flight, that they would still be able to operate without it. My son is at 20/40 right now will get laser if he has to. Not trying to tell the AF what to do. Just curious
 
I find it strange that you are allowed to wear glasses at 20/40 but not at 20/60. I mean if they are going to bother letting you fly with glasses, why should they care what your vision is as long as it isnt extreme. Or is it that they dont wear glasses when they are flying and 20/40 is good enough or they do wear glasses but they want to make sure that if something happened to the glasses in flight, that they would still be able to operate without it. My son is at 20/40 right now will get laser if he has to. Not trying to tell the AF what to do. Just curious

Jesus...Let's put our thinking caps on here. Yes, they wear glasses while flying to correct to 20/20. If those glasses were to "come off", the USAF has determined that a pilot could still reasonably safely maneuver and land the plane at 20/40. The cut off for that has to be somewhere, and I think its pretty well placed around 20/40
 
My son is at 20/40 right now will get laser if he has to.

I would not touch his eyes, he is too young. You think that it might help him, but it could be the exact opposite.

If he is going to go to USAFA they will pay for it IF medically their docs deem him to be a candidate for the surgery (@ their C2C yr I think). If he goes AFROTC they will not pay for it, and you will have to make sure that they are informed of the surgery.
 
I was told DO NOT get surgery on your own, it will disqualify you! The academy will do surgery on your eyes if you get into the academy to make you pilot qualified (that's what I was told) =)
 
He is ROTC. I wouldnt have him do the laser if he has 20/40 as he qualifies. I also do know that anything like the laser surgery has to be coordinated with the Air Force.


Jesus...Let's put our thinking caps on here. Yes, they wear glasses while flying to correct to 20/20. If those glasses were to "come off", the USAF has determined that a pilot could still reasonably safely maneuver and land the plane at 20/40. The cut off for that has to be somewhere, and I think its pretty well placed around 20/40

.Sorry, my question seems to bother you. I dont know if they fly with glasses or not. I wanted an answer and the logic behind it. I can come up with my own logic and answers but it doesnt make it right. Wanted to get other peoples opinon. Next time, I will myself if MMA19kid would approve of my question. Thanks
 
20/40 is only the intake requirement for pilot. Once in the program the standard is relaxed to at least 20/100. There are plenty of older Air Force pilots that wear glasses. My guess is that they want 20/40 at intake so any reasonable degradation in vision will not dq pilots as they get older and more experienced. The air forces invest a ton of money into the training of pilots. Having a tight standard on intake helps keeps pilots in the system as there eye site degrades. Just my guess.
 
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