So I am getting ready to go and attempt to obtain my class 1 (currently a class 3 with around 8months left on it). I am nervous that my eyesight may not allow me to pass the class 1. I was borderline last time I had an eye exam and do not wear any glasses etc.

Due to scheduling I cannot see my eye doc until after my AME appointment. If I fail my class 1 will that automatically invalidate my class 3 until I can get to my doc and get corrective lenses? And will I then need to get OKC involved or is it just another AME visit?

 

It's just another AME visit

 

If you're planning to do this for a living, and you do have concerns about your ability to pass your medical, then it may behoove you to do what it takes to get with your eye doctor first.

You indicated that you have eight months remaining. You can't get an appointment in eight months?

You indicated that you don't want to wear glasses, but you have an eye doctor?

It's best if you don't get denied for a medical, or deferred. If you go in for a medical and can't pass, the AME will simply add the restriction that you must wear corrective lenses. If you don't have corrective lenses (the standard for vision is corrected vision), then the AME can't really test your corrected vision and may have no choice but to defer your medical.

If you've got eight months and you're uncertain, why not just get certain with your own physician first so you know where you stand? Your explanation is inconsistent; best to work that out first.

 

I guess I could have been clearer, I’m on my iPad and it’s not quite so good to write long posts on

I do have 8 months to go on my class 3 however I have the chance to go get my CFI sponsored and the school requires a class 1. This would be starting in January and I leave for Afghanistan in 2 weeks and won’t be back until right before class starts, so it leaves scheduling quite tight.

I have an eye doc as Glaucoma runs in my family and I get checked so If I do develop it, it will be caught as early as possible.

 

Understood.

Do you have known vision problems?

A glaucoma test is not normally part of the flight physical. I've had one done once, as part of the flight physical, when I was a teen; I never went back to that AME. He was an eye, ear, nose, throat specialist, and was making up his own exam...back in the day when a big cup got placed against the eye and pressed. I've never seen another AME administer one.

I am not a physician, not an AME. I cannot give medical counsel, though I've had a lot of medical exams (the rough equivalent to staying in a Holiday Inn Express the night prior). Eye exams in a typical FAA physical will be the same for the Class 1 as what you've had for the Class III. The standards are slightly different, but if you have no problem passing the Class III, you shouldn't have difficulty with the Class I.

I'm at a point where my eyes aren't what they were. I'm moving up the chart to bigger letters; I used to shoot through the bottom line, no problem. Not so much now. I still hold a 1st class medical, and don't forsee that changing. If you know your AME and trust that person, it's a good place to start. Most AME's are not out to hang anyone; they understand we're working, it's a basic check, nothing more. Most ATP's will differentiate between a "good" AME and one who is not, and will go with the "good" ones. Local recommendations count.

 

Standard for Class 3 is that you are 20/40 or better in each eye with or without correction while Class 1 requires you to be 20/20 in each eye with or without correction. That's basically the only difference.

If you need glasses, get glasses. Nobody cares.

If you can't meet the standard in both eyes (or are missing one eye) it gets a little more involved, but it's still doable.

 

I believe it's 20/20 only for far vision. Mid and near don't need 20/20.

 

yup ... get your vision corrected before the exam!

 

I think it's 20/40, something like that. So perfection not required.

 

Update.... got my class 1 this morning, all good on the eyes front! My new AME is great, was a much more relaxed experience than the AME I had last time in Houston who acted like my Class 3 was in preparation for a NASA mission to the moon.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to answer!