Contrail06

Why? How many single eye approaches have you flown?

Anyone out there having trouble getting a 1st or 2nd Class because of this?

If yes, are there any possible SODA's out there for the pilot that has perfect 20/20 vision with both eyes but 20/25 in a left or right eye?

Any imput would be helpful I have an old student who is having trouble and doesnt know what to do.

Twin Wasp

You've heard that they've invented glasses?

I used to fly with a guy that only had one eye. Lost one in an accident. You REALLY don't want to know what he did for Halloween.

rickair7777

Yes, each eye must be correctable to 20/20 (distant vision) or better. That's why the AME gives you the full vision test on each eye individually.

If the student is not using glasses or contacts, that is probably all he needs. If he is using correction, he should try updating his prescription...it could easily change that much in a year or two. If he got his prescription at lenscrafters, maybe he should try a real ophthamologist.

If he really is not correctable to 20/20, he should find out why to make sure he doesn't have some disease.

If that's just what he was born with, I understand that you can get a waiver pretty easily if you can see 20/20 with both eyes.

blastoff

In the Air Force, if you launch on an Emergency War Order (i.e. Nuke attack), you're supposed to wear an eyepatch under your Flash Goggles...theory being if the Flash Goggles fail you still have one good eye to fly.

Totally unrelated...unless the FAA gets its standards from Military ones developed to fight the Cold War.

Contrail06

He came from the eye doctor who gave him new glasses that can only correct him to 20/30 in one of his eyes (cant remember left or right) but together he has 20/20.

Any idea where/how to start the process of getting this waiver?

I've never really thought about it but I wonder what the point of this rule really is.

Twin Wasp

Call an AME. Or start at the top with aeromedical in OKC.

rickair7777

First off, did he get a thorough exam from the eye doc to rule out any medical problems? It is not normal for your vision to suddenly drop to 20/30 best corrected. If it's been that way all along, then it simply is what it is.

I would then find a highly-regarded eye doc (not an optometrist) and get a second opinion and prescription.

If there is no actual medical problem and his vision is stable, then I would just work with an AME to get the waiver. Should be no big deal. If there is some medical problem, obviously he needs to deal with that.

Twin Wasp

There are some Opthamologists who are AMEs, if there is one locally, they'd have seen what the Feds are looking for.

Contrail06

Thanks for the insight guys

If there is anyone out there who has a waiver that allows them to get a first/second class medical without having corrected 20/20 in a left or right eye but still having corrected 20/20 with both eyes working together let me know because I would like to hear what you did for that process and any problems you might of had along the way.

HectorD

You can get prescription sunglasses if contacts don't work for you. Expensive as hell though.