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-6.5 diopters; pilot career possible?

Old 06-30-2018, 12:08 PM
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Default -6.5 diopters; pilot career possible?

Hello everyone,


I'm a year away from finishing college and would love to be an airline pilot one day. My concern is I'm nearsighted and I have a -6 diopter prescription in one eye and a -6.5 diopter prescription for the other. I have 20/15 vision with my contacts in. I've read that anything surpassing -6 for nearsightedness precludes you from a pilot career.



I was considering getting Lasik or PRK, but I've also read that the prescription a person has before surgery might disqualify them from flying professionally as well.


Any thoughts or advice?
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Old 06-30-2018, 07:13 PM
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There are diopter limits for military pilots, and probably for civilian pilots in many foriegn countries.

But in the US, unless there are other eye problems, there is no limit on diopters, you just need to correct to 20/20 in each eye independently.

If you can see 20/15 in each eye, you should be good, with room to spare.

Your concern about LASIK sounds more like military rules as well. But the risk of LASIK is that complications and possible loss of some best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

A pilot with 20/400 who corrects with glasses to 20/15 is good to go.

If he gets LASIK, he may not need glasses, but the scarring may reduce his best possible vision to 20/20... or maybe even 20/25, which would need a waiver.
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Old 06-30-2018, 08:00 PM
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Thank you so much for your response!
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Old 06-30-2018, 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Heythere View Post
Thank you so much for your response!
As above. But with uncorrected VA that bad, it would be prudent to carry a spare set of glasses - even as a Private pilot and certainly as a CFI or ATP.
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Old 06-30-2018, 11:48 PM
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Most airlines require that if a pilot's medical says "Must wear corrective lenses" the pilot must carry a spare set.
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Old 07-01-2018, 06:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Twin Wasp View Post
Most airlines require that if a pilot's medical says "Must wear corrective lenses" the pilot must carry a spare set.
It’s an ICAO standard, woe to the SAFA checkee without a spare pair!

GF
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Old 07-01-2018, 08:45 AM
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Thanks for the input everyone
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Old 07-01-2018, 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Twin Wasp View Post
Most airlines require that if a pilot's medical says "Must wear corrective lenses" the pilot must carry a spare set.
Originally Posted by galaxy flyer View Post
It’s an ICAO standard, woe to the SAFA checkee without a spare pair!

GF
Required for international (ICAO). Some, not all, airlines require a spare set for all operations.

But always a good idea, I own a spare set that lives in my flight bag. I actually use that one for FAA medical exams, it's large and clunky w/ bifocals, not very hip-looking but good for eye tests.
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Old 07-02-2018, 03:33 PM
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https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...h/et/31-34/rp/

If you opt for LASIK make sure you get the latest technology LASIK and do not try to go to the cheapest place to get it done. Do a lot of research on the person doing the procedure and it would be helpful if the Dr. has done many procedures for pilots and with good success.
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